Maryland Freshman Learns It's Easier To Raise Money as Incumbent

By CQ-Roll Call Staff | April 16, 2009 8:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Frank Kratovil

What a difference a year makes.

The campaign of Maryland Democrat Frank Kratovil, Jr. took nine months to raise just over $250,000 for the February 2008 primary.

It's now 2009. Kratovil is a member of Congress, and his campaign reports hauling in $301,830 during the first quarter of this non-election year. He not only raised a lot, he raised it in the style of an incumbent -- relying on political action committes for nearly three-fourths of the campaign's quarterly take.

Kratovil is getting special attention from his party because he holds a seat that used be represented by a Republican, and therefore is ripe for a strong challenge in 2010. Democrats named him to their "Frontline" program, intended to start early to shore up the campaigns of potentially vulnerable incumbents.

State Sen. Andy Harris, who lost to Kratovil in 2008 general election by 2,852 votes, is preparing for a rematch, and reported raising $78,658 during the first three months of 2009.

Other potential Republican challengers to Harris could include state Sen. E.J. Pipkin, who lost to Harris in the 2008 primary, and Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold.

-- Michael Teitelbaum

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