More News

No challenger; no problem for Doug Gansler.

He can coast to re-election and still get exposure every Sunday this fall.

The AG will be back behind the mic for a third year on Comcast SportsNet's Redskins' pregame show, starting with the season opener Sept. 12 against the NFC East rival Cowboys.

Even if he faced competition, Gansler said he'd still probably have done the show, noting it likely wouldn't have violated equal-time rule for candidates because his role isn't political.

The sports junkie, whose first love is lacrosse, predicts a bounce-back year for the revamped Burgundy and Gold: an 11-5 record.

"When you bring in [new quarterback] Donovan McNabb, clearly, you're saying the future is now," Gansler said.

Ever the politician, Gansler pleaded the fifth when asked to weigh in on controversial defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth.

"I try and stay away from [commenting on] soap opera dramas."

— Alan Brody 

Ficker's pedal to mettle

Term-limits activist and District 2 Montgomery County Council candidate Robin Ficker is taking to the streets with his triathlon-winning daughter for a one-day, 60-mile bicycle tour through the district on Sept. 18. The trek from White's Ferry to Olney will include stops in 13 towns, large and small.

For folks who already know the Republican former House of Delegates member (1979-1983) and dogged critic of the county's Democratic establishment, there's the added attraction of meeting his lovely daughter, Desiree, one month after she blew by the competition to win the TriStar111 Estonia and shortly after she came in second in the Ironman 70.3 European Championship in Wiesbaden, Germany.

As for her lawyer dad, he must be prepping for the ride by sprinting between court and upcounty lawns, given the number of Ficker and term limits signs sprouting up there.

The ride, which Ficker said is open to all, starts at 7 a.m. in White's Ferry, and is expected to end before dark in Olney. Ficker said he will donate $60 to the Montgomery County Humane Society for every cyclist, up to 100 riders, who finishes the 60-mile ride.

Two years ago, more than half of Montgomery County voters gave Ficker a victory by casting ballots in favor of his initiative to require a unanimous council vote to exceed the spending limit laid out in the county's charter.

— Margie Hyslop 

Every dollar counts

In the final hours of voting on primary election night, Bob Ehrlich won't be reviewing exit polls; won't be making a last-minute pitch for votes; and won't be holed up in a campaign war room waiting for results to stream in.

He'll be attending a house party in Ellicott City — Ehrlich's preferred mode of fundraising this year. The $500-per-head shindig — $1,500 for a VIP reception with RLE — will be at the home of Tom Buescher, an executive for Ryan Homes.

Doesn't election night call for a night away from the money trail?

"You always want to be with your family and supporters on election night, whether it's the primary or general election, and that will be the case," said Ehrlich campaign spokesman Henry Fawell.

He noted that a complete Election Day schedule still is in the works.

— Alan Brody 

Team Ehrlich steps up

Speaking of house parties, Bob Ehrlich is getting by with a little help from his friends. Not just any friends, but a couple of former Cabinet members.

Former appointments secretary Larry Hogan, who floated running for guv if Ehrlich didn't, will play host to an "island sunset party" at his Edgewater home on Sept. 25. Tickets start at $250.

The next night, Ehrlich will head to the Glyndon farm of ex-state business secretary Aris Melissaratos. It'll cost twice as much to get in the door there.

Another 20 cabinet members left to hit up.

— Alan Brody 

Low blow

As a Washington Nationals fan, Mike Raia hasn't had much to cheer about this summer. The Nats are 20 games under .500, out of the playoff hunt and just lost their stud pitcher to major surgery for the rest of this year and most, if not all, of next season.

But that didn't stop Raia, the press secretary for Anthony Brown, from taking a potshot at the paltry crowd that showed up at Camden Yards Wednesday night for a game against the Boston Red Sox.

The upper deck was wide open, and there was a vast sea of unoccupied seats throughout the first level.

"This looks like a Bob Ehrlich rally in Takoma Park," he cracked from the state-owned skybox where Brown was hosting the leaders of various state commissions

We respectfully disagree.

There's no way 16,210 Ehrlich supporters — Wednesday's official attendance — would venture into the deep-blue milieu of Takoma Park.

— Alan Brody