Republican Ehrlich Highlights Ties to Democratic Pr. George's Executive

[Judi Lynn]

Republican Ehrlich Highlights Ties to Democratic Pr. George's Executive

By Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff writer
Saturday, August 12, 2006; Page B04

After getting trounced in the Washington suburbs in 2002, Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said yesterday that he is well positioned to gain ground there in his reelection bid in part because of his warm relationship with Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson.

Four years ago, "I didn't like him. He didn't like me," the Republican said of Johnson (D) at a lunch meeting with Washington Post editors and reporters at the governor's mansion in Annapolis. Since then, the bipartisan relationship has blossomed into something "really terrific."

In the past month, the two have played golf and worked to woo the NAACP to consider moving its headquarters from Baltimore to the Prince George's National Harbor development.

Ehrlich said he does not expect the executive to endorse him in a general election match with Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D). But he suggested that Johnson has been helpful in more subtle ways, such as his public praise of the governor for buoying the troubled Prince George's Hospital Center.
(snip)

Johnson's campaign was less effusive about the relationship that Ehrlich described. State Democratic Party officials called the governor's election projections "wishful thinking."
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/11/AR2006081101698.html?nav=rss_metro



Erlich

[seemunkee]

1. Some of my best friends are black

[AX10]

2. Johnson better endorse O'Malley.