Legum’s New Line

The 2008 election just ended, but State Sen. Andy Harris (R) is already planning for a rematch against newly minted Congressman Frank Kratovil in Maryland’s first district. Roll Call reports:

State Sen. Andy Harris said he intends to meet with the National Republican Congressional Committee sometime in the next two weeks to talk about a rematch against freshman Rep. Frank Kratovil (D) in 2010.

“I’ll stop by and let them know that I’m certainly still interested in the 1st Congressional district in Maryland,” Harris said Monday afternoon.

Harris knocked off moderate Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in the 2008 GOP primary, and he then went on to lose by a razor-thin margin in a contest that he didn’t concede until a week after Election Day.

“We were within a percent in what was a terrible year for the Republicans, and I’m hoping 2010 will be a better year,” Harris said.

Andy Green writes in the Sun: “The 1st District is way beyond marginal for Democrats — it was specifically designed to be a Republican seat. So it’s certainly conceivable that we’ll have another tough election there next year.” This is true, and it’s possible the national environment will be more favorable to Harris in 2010. Kratovil, however, will have two years to show what he can do for the people of Maryland’s first district. Considering Kratovil’s considerable abilities, I think Harris will have a much tougher time of it two years from now.

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