NRA’s support of Dems angers Ehrlich, GOP

Four senators among those that Republicans plan to challenge in November

Friday, Aug. 25, 2006

ANNAPOLIS — The National Rifle Association has endorsed four incumbent Democratic senators instead of their Republican challengers, angering Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and some of his allies.

Sens. John C. Astle, James Brochin, Roy P. Dyson and Katherine A. Klausmeier — all of whom have been targeted for defeat by Ehrlich and the GOP — were endorsed over the governor’s objections. Aides to Ehrlich (R) made clear to NRA officials that they hoped the gun-rights organization would back the Republican candidates rather than the Democratic incumbents.

‘‘This is just another example of where the NRA and the governor disagree,” said Paul E. Schurick, Ehrlich’s communications director. ‘‘These four senators are part of the Democratic monopoly that the governor is trying to change.”

NRA’s support is a key endorsement for the four Democrats because they all represent counties that heavily supported Ehrlich in 2002, and where the GOP is fielding strong challengers in hopes of winning more seats in the Senate.

Jennifer H. Palmer, an NRA lobbyist in Annapolis, would not go into detail about the pushback from the Ehrlich administration. She pointed out that the NRA has a policy of protecting ‘‘friendly incumbents.”

‘‘All four of them have a solid pro-gun voting record and have worked over the years to establish a strong relationship with our organization,” Palmer said. The NRA’s endorsement could play a significant role in an election because many NRA members are single-issue voters, she said.

The NRA’s decision has caused some heartburn in the Ehrlich administration. It has also irked the Republicans running against the targeted Democrats.

‘‘I think it is a snub to the governor,” said Craig Borne, a lifelong NRA member who is challenging Klausmeier (D-Dist. 8) of Baltimore. ‘‘The governor has an opportunity to make some serious changes that will affect gun owners and gun owners’ rights [but] he needs some partners in the legislature.

‘‘The NRA should be behind him and they’re not,” he said.

Klausmeier, a former delegate, said the gun lobby has always supported her and she does not consider that support a slap at Ehrlich. ‘‘It’s because of how I feel about public safety and protection and individual [gun owners’] rights,” she said. ‘‘I think people expect me to have it.”

Palmer said the NRA cannot please everyone.

‘‘Whenever this large of an organization is mobilized to vote for a certain candidate, it’s fair to say that you’re always going to have someone who is unhappy,” she said.

There are more than 100,000 NRA members in Maryland, Palmer said, so the group’s endorsement is a big deal in certain races. She said the NRA’s commitment to Klausmeier and Brochin (D-Dist. 42) of Towson is particularly strong; it is hosting a ‘‘mix and mingle” in their honor in Towson on Sept. 23.

Dyson (D-Dist. 29) of Great Mills and Astle (D-Dist. 30) of Annapolis are each facing stiff challenges from Republicans supported by Ehrlich. Del. Herbert H. McMillan (R-Dist. 30) of Annapolis is running against Astle and is also considered pro-gun, but the NRA endorsed Astle.

Like the NRA, Ehrlich has opposed bills that would ban assault weapons, Schurick said. Some pro-gun supporters would like the governor to be more aggressive, he said, but Maryland is a liberal state when it comes to gun control. ‘‘Sometimes it’s apparent that the NRA struggles to understand the political realities in Maryland,” Schurick said.

That comment drew a sharp retort from Jim Purtilo, publisher of Tripwire, a pro-gun newsletter, who has frequently criticized Ehrlich. Comments like Schurick’s will raise the ire of some in the governor’s conservative base, he said.

‘‘After the administration reneged on so many promises to us, we shouldn’t be surprised that they don’t recognize the trust and loyalty we show to our friends,” Purtilo said. ‘‘In truth, the administration wouldn’t recognize trust and loyalty if it bit them in the ass.”

The gun issue is a tricky one for Ehrlich. He has to balance the wishes of his generally pro-gun Republican base with the realities that most Marylanders favor more gun control. Ehrlich’s likely Democratic opponent, Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, favors the assault weapons ban and other gun control issues.

Ehrlich was criticized by some in the pro-gun community as recently as this year’s session because the Maryland Department of Environment closed down a shooting range in Western Maryland that survived without scrutiny under Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D), a fierce proponent of gun control.

Republicans have high hopes of winning the Senate seat in northwest Baltimore’s District 42, now held by Brochin. But Brochin’s NRA endorsement could dash those hopes.

Former Baltimore County councilman Douglas B. Riley, one of two Republicans in the race, was surprised to learn that the NRA had endorsed Brochin before he could submit a questionnaire. When his campaign contacted the group, the NRA cited its incumbent-friendly policy.

‘‘The gun people were very grateful to him for two or three votes that kept guns on the street,” Riley said. ‘‘... I don’t think the NRA was even aware I was in the race.”