Andy Harris gets a primary foe in First District
Looks like state Sen. Andy Harris, the choice of the Republican establishment for the First District congressional seat in Maryland, will face a primary contest after all.
Rob Fisher, an Eastern Shore businessman and political newcomer, just launched an expensive TV ad buy for his outsider campaign. "Not a career politician" is a theme of the opening spot, which introduces the Eastern Shore native as a conservative Republican who will challenge business as usual in Washington.
Outsider campaigns have been successful in other states this year, and while Fisher won't have an easy time taking on Harris, his candidacy adds an element of uncertainty to the state's most closely watched congressional election.
Harris narrowly lost to Democrat Frank Kratovil in 2008 and is the early-line favorite to regain the conservative Eastern Maryland district for Republicans in this year's mid-terms. The national Republican Party has worked hard to encourage his candidacy and avoid a potentially damaging and divisive fight in the September primary.
For a long time, there were questions about whether Harris' state Senate colleague, E. J. Pipkin, might make another try. A three-way primary battle two years ago ousted longtime moderate Republican Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, but the resulting divisions helped Democrats take the seat for the first time in nearly two decades.
Pipkin hasn't announced any plans for 2010 but Fisher appears serious about competing for the Republican nomination.
Word is he's put $77,000 behind his opening buy. You can watch the ad here
Fisher is pushing his Eastern Shore roots, a potential advantage against Harris, who lives a world away in the suburbs north of Baltimore. Harris, a 12-year veteran of the Maryland legislature, also could be vulnerable to anti-politician sentiment.
Fisher's deep pockets may well force Harris to draw down much of the campaign account that he had hoped to employ in his challenge to Kratovil, one of the most endangered Democratic incumbents in the country. That could end up hurting the Republican effort to retake the House, since national money spent on the Maryland race in the fall will drain resources away from contests in other states.
Comments
Anybody but Harris should be the cry from Republicans on the Eastern Shore. His record in the state legislature is laughable. His main political backers are the same greedy corporate elitists that caused the economic ruin we are now experiencing. He may be pro-fetus, but Andy Harris has never been pro-life. That takes a commitment to the person after birth. Andy Harris is a hateful, divisive person that will represent the RNC and not the 1st District of Maryland. Good luck, Rob Fisher!
Posted by: afmcalax | June 9, 2010 12:49 PM
If Andy Harris didn't act so smug, he might have one last time. When Andy Harris speaks, he puts off this tone that he's better than you. I get that vibe everytime I hear talk. Maybe it's not the cake walk Harris envisioned when he told the General Assembly that he was off to better things at the end of the session. Go Rob Fisher.
Posted by: Jeff | June 9, 2010 2:04 PM
Thank you Rob Fisher for your views.
Whew.
Posted by: Larry | June 9, 2010 2:07 PM
Whoo hoo!! What a great ad.
Posted by: Indep Endent | June 9, 2010 2:17 PM
Andy Harris thinks the seat belongs to him already...well it doesn't. Go Rob Fisher!
Posted by: Poeman | June 9, 2010 3:42 PM
Just saw the ad. Andy get out of the race now. You better be ready to spend all you cash now just to win the primary. And if you do Frank K. will pound you with ads later. Couldn't happen to a nicer and warmer guy...
Posted by: john | June 9, 2010 5:30 PM
Finally, a worthy challenger! Andy Harris was, is and always will be a jerk--try talking with him one-on-one! He's about one thing only-Andy Harris. A Kratovil Fisher campaign would be great!
Posted by: matesefer | June 9, 2010 5:36 PM
Andy Harris is a hate-filled man. His anti-gay, anti-woman's rights, anti-semitic, anti-everything approach to politics is scary, especially for someone who has the power to "put me under" for an operation. As a former patient, his bedside manner is atrocious.
"Dr." Harris was recently quoted saying, "Occasional viewing of porn is more dangerous than occasionally lighting up a cigarette." REALLY?!? A JHU-alumnus medical doctor said this in public? REALLY?!?!
Just four months ago, "Dr." Harris proposed an amendment to permanently reduce the state's funding for stem cell research. Blessedly, the amendment failed. Prior to this proposal "Dr." Harris had been publicly chided for his LACK OF KNOWLEDGE on stem cell research, DESPITE his medical background. REALLY? ARE YOU SERIOUS, ANDY??? No medical KNOWLEDGE on a medical topic for which 'Politician You" proposed cutting funding? REALLY?!? What gives you the right?!?! Notice I did not ask who gives you the right, because I know you'd say God does. Am I right?
And talk about disingenuous, get this...
Until RECENTLY, "Dr." Harris WAS an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Then just ONE year ago, "Dr." Harris took a part-time position at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, MD. Why would a Doctor at a nationally prestigious Baltimore hospital and resident of Cockeysville, MD take on a part-time job in Salisbury (a 250 mile round trip)? POLITICS! He has a HUGE Shore problem as residents of The Eastern Shore do not take kindly to being represented by anyone from the western shore. Now he can try to "claim" that at least for the last 12 months, he has "worked" on the Eastern Shore. Bull, Andy, Bull! And how many days/hours per week are you spending in Salisbury in his part-time job? Since the round trip from home to work and back take 3-4 hours on a good traffic day.
So transparent. Thank God a real Eastern Shore resident has stepped up to give ol' "Dr." Andy a run in the Republican primary in September. His name is Rob Fisher, an Eastern Shore businessman and political newcomer.
Step aside, Andy. You lost this race 4 years ago to a real Shore man, and you will lose it again.
Posted by: Woodie731 | June 9, 2010 6:56 PM
This is GREAT news for Maryland's 1st District! Finally a credible conservative candidate who understands how the REAL world works. It's unfortunate that the national party doesn't understand how unpopular Harris is among so many people. I'm just so glad that the people of Maryland's First District now have a choice!
Posted by: AverageJane | June 11, 2010 3:03 PM
Harris is just the man we need. He is a true conservative and has both legislative and business experience. He is not afraid to confront the tough issues and is candidid about what he believes and what he will do.
Posted by: Charles Block | August 15, 2010 3:23 PM