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This story was corrected on Aug. 27, 2009. An explanation of the correction is at the end of the story.

In a move being seen as a precursor to next year's state elections, state Del. Saqib Ali (D-Dist. 39) has challenged Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Dist. 39) to an "online debate" – drawing no response from the senator and the chagrin of the county's democratic leadership.

Ali, a first-term representative, announced on the state's most-visited political blog that he would post three letters to contrast his position on "progressive issues" with those of King.

Ali's entries on Maryland Politics Watch have covered his support of same-sex marriage and a corporate tax "loophole" that he wants to close — both of which King opposes.

"Nobody else has these positions, quite frankly. No other sitting state senator has spoken out against gay marriage," Ali said. "I honestly do think that we have the greatest difference — a very great deal of difference."

King has not responded to Ali's postings.

"I just didn't bother answering him because I think it's inappropriate at this time," the Montgomery Village resident said. "He's definitely looking at my seat. The election is over a year off. I don't see any reason to get into it, especially with somebody who is supposedly on my own team."

The row between the two legislators traces back to 2007, when the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee chose King over Ali to fill Dist. 39's vacant Senate seat. King had been elected the year before to her second term in the House and Ali to his first.

"There has been speculation about Saqib Ali ever since that. This is only encouraging it," said Adam Pugnucco, who has helped run Maryland Politics Watch since 2007. "I have never had one member of a slate call out another member of the slate. … It's not good for team unity. It's a very unusual event."

In his opening statement Aug. 17, Ali acknowledged "rumors" about his political aspirations but pushed them aside in order to have "a friendly, cordial discussion" with King that he hoped would "give constituents a window into my thought process and my legislative philosophy."

The next day, he contrasted his support for same-sex marriage with King's opposition. Tuesday, he highlighted his efforts — and King's opposition — to close a "loophole" in Maryland law that allows multi-state corporations to avoid taxes by claiming sales from Maryland in states that do not tax them.

Though Ali's letters drew several comments of support, they also brought rebuke from the chairman of Montgomery County's Senate delegation, Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr.

In a comment posted to the blog last week, Madaleno (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington played up the legislators' common ground and suggested that such a discussion was better suited for lunch or a cup of coffee.

"I have learned to value the input of my colleagues as I learned to understand their positions from their perspective," he wrote to Ali's statement on same-sex marriage. "I have benefitted from my relationships with people like you and Nancy King. I simply cannot imagine those bonds being strengthened by an on-line exchange."

Madaleno said in an interview that while it may compound the tension between King and Ali, he does not expect it to impair the lawmakers' effectiveness in Annapolis.

"I can't imagine, for example, that Del. Ali would purposely sabotage one of Sen. King's bills, or vice versa," he said.

The snubbing from King and reproach from Madaleno have not dissuaded Ali from posting his final installment Tuesday.

"Politicians have insider conversations all the time. But what I'd like to show my constituents is try to bring them into the political process and give them an insider's view as much as possible," he said.

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled the name of Adam Pagnucco, who has helped run Maryland Politics Watch since 2007. It also stated that Del. Kirill Reznick (D-Dist. 39) did not respond to requests for comment, but his return message for comment was not received. Del. Charles Barkley (D-Dist. 39) did not return an e-mail for comment.