Republican former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. teased the announcement of his running mate this week for several days. Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, meanwhile, tried to build anticipation for a surprise announcement of his own (it turned out to be an award from the National Education Association).

Now GOP gubenatorial hopeful Brian Murphy is trying to get in on the fun. The Montgomery County businessman said Friday he would announce his running mate next week.

The twist: while he wouldn't name the individual, he did offer some hints.

In a release, Murphy said his pick for lieutenant governor "has served the United States with distinction, including duty in the United States Marine Corps, the FBI, the office of Federal Inspector General, and as a Congressional Investigator." The individual currently serves as a "a college forensics professor."

Murphy plans to announce his pick during a public event at 11 a.m. Tuesday at campaign headquarters in Crofton.

Tuesday is the filing deadline for governor and other offices, which raises the question: Why wouldn't Murphy make his announcement now, when he could take advantage of the news vacuum going into the holiday weekend, rather than wait until filing day, when it seems likely to be overwhelmed by the deluge of political information to become available?