Maryland Senate candidate Eric Wargotz is highlighting illegal immigration, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and America's dependence on foreign energy sources in a radio ad aimed at Republican primary voters.

The Queen Anne's County commissioner never mentions Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski. Instead, he pushes several conservative hot-buttons with sometimes vague statements aimed at Marylanders angry with the status quo.

He attacks "Washington" and says its "biggest failure" surrounds the federal government's duty to provide for the common defense.

He's not talking about terrorist attacks on Americans or nuclear threats from Iran or North Korea. His concerns are illegal immigration, "a war with no apparent end," the need to make more use of domestic energy resources and unspecified threats to the liberty of U.S. citizens.

In perhaps his clearest statement, Wargotz says he "will not coddle terrorists with civilian trials," a criticism of Republican President George W. Bush as well as Democratic President Barack Obama (who, unlike Bush, has yet to put a terrorist on trial in a civilian court, though his administration is moving in that direction).

Wargotz consultant Don Murphy says the ads are running on local talk radio stations around the state. An audio link is here, on Wargotz's campaign website.