CD6: Republican Candidates Respond to Release of Sen. David Brinkley's 911 Calls // Robin Ficker & Del. Kathy Afzali Speak Out

UPDATE: Maryland Reporter notes a 3rd GOP candidate response from Brandon Rippeon. He calls both Bartlett and Brinkley "unworthy."

The Republican Primary in Maryland's 6th Congressional District is getting crazy as we get closer to election day. Over the weekend, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett took out a sledgehammer and smacked challenger State Sen David Brinkley in the head. His supporters unearthed audio tapes of 911 calls placed by Brinkley's ex-wife that were made when the Senator was caught in an affair.

Two Republican candidates are now condemning the shenanigans in the CD6 race. Below we print email blast responses from former Delegate Robin Ficker and Delegate Kathy Afzali. Ficker's email message is reportedly going out to 40,000 voters.

From: Robin Ficker
Subject: Sleazy campaigning and shocking 911 calls... Robin Ficker condemns them!

Robin Ficker criticizes 911 smear campaign on Marylandjuice.com http://www.marylandjuice.com/2012/03/cd6-rep-roscoe-bartlett-goes-nuclear-in.html

"Publicizing that 911 call by Brinkley's ex-wife is a new low in negative campaigning," said Robin Ficker, Republican candidate for Maryland's 6th Congressional district.

"I've stayed positive and talked about the issues important to voters. While others attack, I've been busy getting signatures to limit energy taxes. I ran ads, sent emails and called voters, and I testified before the Maryland legislature to prevent a gas tax hike. The Democrats tried to rig this election by radically redistricting us.  Sleaze will only ease the way for the Democrats who tried to disenfranchise us. I, Robin Ficker, will not let sleazy campaigning and shocking 911 calls like those on Marylandjuice.com (http://www.marylandjuice.com/2012/03/cd6-rep-roscoe-bartlett-goes-nuclear-in.html) distract the voters and me."

Robin Ficker

Brinkley 911 tapes of domestic dispute surface

Hello! 

Election day is Tuesday and so much happens in one day in the campaign. Yesterday I received news that MarylandJuice.com was reporting Congressman Bartlett had released an audio tape about fellow competitor David Brinkley. The audio is very disturbing.

I am sorry for his ex-wife that this came out, but this is a liability for Republicans if Brinkley should get the nomination. The audio consists of 911 tapes of his wife and then him calling police for help during a domestic dispute between the two.

I had hesitated to send this to my supporters, but because the election is Tuesday, I felt that this information should be available to voters before making a final decision on this very important race.

I have tried to stay positive during the campaign so I have personally struggled with whether or not to send this.

Both Bartlett and Brinkley need to go. The time for a new, fresh voice is now! I need your vote Tuesday!

Much more on the CD6 race soon!

CD6: Joe Krysztoforski Releases Internal Poll Showing Dead Heat with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett // Sen. Brinkley in Distant Third

UPDATE: The Krysztoforski campaign has released some details on their polling sample, as well as county-level results of their survey. Note: Maryland Juice makes no claims about the data below.

CD6: Joe Krysztoforski Poll Results // Details on Sample and County Tabs

BACKGROUND: This weekend, State Senator David Brinkley released the results of internal polling showing his campaign in a dead heat with incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett. A rival campaign immediately cried foul, alleging that one of its supporters participated in the poll and claimed the caller only asked about Bartlett and Brinkley. They complained that the pollsters completely omitted the other GOP candidates from their questionnaire.

Today Tea Party candidate Joe Krysztoforski has released his own internal poll results, and he claims the he -- not David Brinkley -- is the actual leading challenger to Roscoe Bartlett. In Kryszotorski's poll, he is in a head heat with the incumbent, and State Senator Brinkley is in a distant third. See the press release below.


For Immediate Release

Krysztoforski Leads the Pack
TelePoll Shows Candidate Has Strong Grassroots Support

April 1, 2011 (Frederick, MD) – A poll of registered voters across Maryland’s 6th Congressional district was commissioned by Krysztoforski’s campaign committee. The Poll conducted between March 19th, 2012 and March 30th, 2012 shows Krysztoforski and Bartlett in a statistical dead heat.

The results are consistence with other straw polls;  The Frederick County GOP’s  January poll showing Krysztoforski with 46.2% and Bartlett with 46.7% of the vote, the poll conducted by the Hagerstown Tea Party, following their candidate forum, showing Krysztoforski with 26% and Bartlett with 27% of the vote and the political blog marylandjuice.com’s grassroots intensity poll,  showing Krysztoforski’s grassroots support at 47% and Bartlett’s at 13%. 

CD6 JuiceBlender: News Roundup of Democratic & Republican Primary Coverage // Plus, Watch Full Candidate Debate VIDEOS

There is less than one week left in the heated 6th Congressional District Primary Elections, so all the candidates are making their final appeals this week. Below Maryland Juice prints a quick-hit list of the latest news coverage in the CD6 race:

JUICE #1 - ROLL CALL: "Delaney Closes In on Garagiola"

CD6 DIRECT MAIL: Sen. David Brinkley Attacks Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's Age // Plus, Del. Kathy Afzali to Challenge Brinkley?

SEN. DAVID BRINKLEY CALLS OUT REP. ROSCOE BARTLETT'S AGE: Maryland Juice recently stumbled upon two direct mail pieces that GOP State Senator David Brinkley is sending CD6 voters. In one piece, he assaults incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's voting record as "too liberal" and raises a thinly veiled criticism aimed at highlighting Bartlett's age. The piece notes that the long-serving member of Congress is 85-years-old, but suggests that age is NOT an issue. Cute.

Sen. Brinkley's mail piece also points readers to a website of citations for his attacks (including a mention of the STACHE Act). The caption for his list of links about Rep. Bartlett's voting record states:

IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE...

I am running against Roscoe Bartlett, not because he's 85 years old, but because he votes liberal.

After 20 years in Washington, the liberal seduction of Roscoe Bartlett is complete. His views, his votes and his passions are all liberal. Sadly, there is not much left to differentiate Bartlett from Nancy Pelosi.

WILL DEL. KATHY AFZALI CHALLENGE SEN. DAVID BRINKLEY IN 2014? - See Brinkley's two mail pieces below, followed by a brief video clip of rival candidate Robin Ficker at a CD6 GOP candidates debate from last Sunday. Ficker takes a strong anti-war position against the conflicts with Iran and Afghanistan, but also takes time to throw zingers at Delegate Kathy Afzali and Senator David Brinkley. Ficker points out that both Annapolis lawmakers actually live in Rep. Chris Van Hollen's 8th Congressional District and are carpetbaggers.

THEORY: Ficker also commented that Del. Afzali and Sen. Brinkley sound like they are fighting for the 2014 GOP nomination to the District 4 State Senate seat. At first I thought he was joking, but then I started to realize they have been bitterly attacking each other during the course of this race. I think that seems like a plausible scenario, and I think Del. Kathy Afzali would be a formidable opponent in a Republican Primary against Sen. Brinkley. His now high-profile "issues" with women and his lackluster fundraising will likely dovetail nicely with a poor performance in next week's GOP Primary. I suspect this will broadcast his political vulnerability to potential 2014 challengers, thus proving that there is a downside to running for Congress while serving in Annapolis. Note: many lawmakers see it as a "free shot," since they don't have to resign from their seats in order to run for Congress.

Maryland State Senator David Brinkley's Direct Mail Piece Attacking Rep. Roscoe Bartlett

Maryland State Senator David Brinkley's Direct Mail Piece Highlighting Endorsements

Watch Robin Ficker's comments about Afzali and Brinkley below:

CD6 GOP JUICEBLENDER: Rob Garagiola Push Poll, Sen. David Brinkley Apologizes to Burger King, Negative Robocalls & More!

With the first ballots due to be cast during early voting tomorrow, Maryland Juice is noticing a few things things about the 6th Congressional District Republican Primary:

THE STATUS OF THE CD6 GOP RACE // FOUR QUICK POINTS

1. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction among Republican activists about Rep. Roscoe Bartlett.
2. That dissatisfaction has lead to candidacies from CD6 candidates representing the Liberty, Tea Party, and Norquist wings of the Maryland GOP.
3. But some of the elected challengers (ie; Sen. David Brinkley & Del. Kathy Afzali) are spending more time attacking each other than the incumbent Rep. Bartlett. That may help draw votes to party activists like Joe Krzystoforski and Robin Ficker.
4. As a result, Roscoe Bartlett hasn't had to spend much of his campaign cash, and it seems as if none of the challengers has so far succeeded in turning this into a head-to-head race.

Early voting begins tomorrow, so the candidates are busy throwing punches right now to try and get some traction. See a few examples below:

SEN. DAVID BRINKLEY APOLOGIZES TO BURGER KING: We previously reported that prominent Tea Party blogger Ann Corcoran was pissed off at State Senator David Brinkley for what she believed to be demeaning treatment of Del. Kathy Afzali (the only woman in the CD6 race). Sen. Brinkley suggested that Ms. Afzali would be better off working at Burger King than in the Assembly, due to the whoppers she was telling. Some felt that this sort of treatment would never be used for one of Mr. Brinkley's male competitors:

POTOMAC TEA PARTY REPORT: It is one thing to say she is exaggerating her record in Annapolis and quite another to suggest she should be working at Burger King.  Can you imagine for one minute that Brinkley’s staffer would suggest Roscoe Bartlett, or any of the men in this race should be working at Burger King.  Not a chance!  What?  Are attractive blond women somehow fair game?  This has got to stop!...

Is it any wonder so few women are willing to run for elected office?

Time for an apology Mr. Brinkley!

DAVID BRINKLEY TEMPER FLARE-UP: Rather than apologizing to Del. Afzali for suggesting she should work at Burger King, Sen. David Brinkley apologized to Burger King! Wow. The Frederick News-Posts's Bethany Rodgers reported on the flare-up (see excerpt below):

FREDERICK NEWS-POST: At the core of the exchange was a comment made by Delegate Kathy Afzali during a Monday night Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce forum for hopefuls in the race to represent the 6th Congressional District. A battle of news releases began Tuesday, when Sen. David Brinkley's campaign circulated a statement titled, "Afzali should be working at Burger King...."

Afzali had said that during her time in the Maryland General Assembly, she had been "passing bills that Senator Brinkley tried for 20 years to pass," according to a recording of the forum. The news release pointed out that in fact Afzali, a freshman lawmaker, has never passed a bill through the legislature.

Afzali responded the next day by stating that Brinkley had crossed the line....

"One must wonder if Brinkley would have made such comments toward a male candidate based on his previous, well-documented treatment of women." (Double zing!)

Afzali said she was referring to Brinkley's troubled marriage, which ended in 2010, two years after police went to his home for an argument between the couple....

Brinkley's campaign spokesman, Don Murphy, then sent out another release offering an apology ... to the people of Burger King. Someone who lies on their résumé isn't fit for work in Congress. Or at a fast-food restaurant, Murphy indicated.

TEA PARTY DISCHORD: This once again set off Tea Party blogger Ann Corcoran, who noted the following dissatisfaction about the status quo of the Republican Party:

POTOMAC TEA PARTY REPORT: Last night the Hagerstown Tea Party hosted another candidate forum... There was no particular highlight that stands out from last night.  The lowlight however came in the opening minutes as each candidate was given a couple of minutes to say what they were all about.  That charming (not!) MD Senator David Brinkley took some of his time to lambaste Del. Kathy Afzali for leaving Annapolis before a certain vote yesterday which was a personal assault that moderators had just moments before forbidden.

One of the motivating concerns for Tea Partiers from the outset is that generally we are sick of a certain style of politicking.

Most of us just want to hear the issues discussed, hear the candidates opinions and plans, look at their records, and observe who works hard to meet voters and establish a grassroots campaign.   I think everyone is sick to death of personal attacks and dirty campaigning.

HAGERSTOWN TEA PARTY STRAW POLL: The Potomac Tea Party Report also notes that Republican candidate Joe Krysztoforski (the winner of Maryland Juice's GOP grassroots straw poll) nearly tied Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in a recent Hagerstown Tea Party straw poll. Ms. Corcoran comments:

If the Krysztoforski vote surprises you, it doesn’t surprise me.   He has worked very hard over a couple of years to build a grassroots network throughout the district.

1. Roscoe Bartlett 27%
2. Joseph Krysztoforski 26%
3. Brandon Rippeon 12%
4. Robert Coblentz 8%
5. Robin Ficker 8%
6. Kathy Afzali 7%
7. David Brinkley 5%
8. Peter James 4%
9. Ron Little 1%
10. John Delaney 1% (Did not attend)

DAVID BRINKLEY ROBOCALL: Meanwhile, a Twitter user reports on a robocall she received from State Senator David Brinkley's campaign. It came by way of a taped message from Gaithersburg Councilmember Henry Marraffa boasting that Mr. Brinkley "beat the Garagiola gas tax." (Personally, I think David Brinkley's campaign is hopeless at this point).

GARAGIOLA PUSH-POLL? - Last bit of campaign gossip out there comes (again) from Potomac Tea Party Report writer Ann Corcoran. She has a quick description of an alleged "push poll" from State Senator Rob Garagiola's campaign:

...just as I was getting ready to leave for the event last evening, I got a “push-poll” phone call clearly from Garagiola’s gang.  I had to laugh as I listened to the questions because they were so unbelievably slanted that I joked on several occasions with the caller about the bias.  (I think he thought it was funny too).   Garagiola must be loaded with money for calls like the one I received and all the pieces of mail we receive from him almost daily it seems.

ROBIN FICKER ON THE PROSPECT OF WAR WITH IRAN: Meanwhile, Robin Ficker and a few of the CD6 Republican candidates appear (in some respects) to have a stronger anti-war positions than some Democrats. What's up with that?




MUCH MORE ON THE CD6 BATTLE SOON!

CD6 VIDEO: GOP Candidate Kathy Afzali Dons Mustache & Mocks Rep. Roscoe Bartlett // God Bless the STACHE ACT

UPDATE: The American Mustache Institute has issued a response to Kathy Afzali's video demeaning the STACHE Act. Their tirade is entitled "Gutless, Shameful Afzali Again Attacks Sexual Dynamism of Mustached American Leader." Read an excerpt from the lengthy piece below:

AMERICAN MUSTACHE INSTITUTE: Gutless and shameful State of Maryland Delegate Kathy Afzali, who continues to cling to her misguided fantasy that she has the intellectual capability to overtake and replace Mustached American Maryland 6th District U.S . Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, has lisped her way through an infantile video attacking the Congressman for his support of the groundbreaking proposed Stache Act legislation....

Worse yet, the American Mustache Institute officially requested a interview with Ms. Afzali to defend her dwarfed opinion about the Stache Act and her camp refused.

I don't know how I missed this video, but I guess the Democratic bomb-throwing in CD6 distracted me to the equally entertaining battle going on in the Republican Primary. Delegate Kathy Afzali donned a mustache and released a video mocking Rep. Roscoe Bartlett for his involvement with the STACHE Act, a tax credit for mustachioed Americans. Watch Del. Afzali's response below:

LINKS: 6th Congressional District Candidates Fundraising Reports // See Where They Are Getting Their Money

Curious who is paying for the CD6 candidates' campaign? Maryland Juice decided to compile a series of links to the 6th Congressional District candidates' campaign finance reports. I only linked to the information that was available, but the FEC should be posting new reports from the candidates soon. According to the FEC's reporting schedule, TODAY is the filing deadline for the next batch of reports. We expect these will start appearing online any day now, so check back on the links below.

In the meantime, some of the candidates have been posting "48-hour notices," which are reports of last minute contributions. You can see who has been donating below:

Democrats:

1. Charles Bailey - summary - filings
2. John Delaney - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings
3. Rob Garagiola - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings
4. Ron Little - summary (no filings yet)
5. Milad Pooran - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings

Republicans:

1. Kathy Afzali - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings
2. Roscoe Bartlett - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings
3. David Brinkley - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings
4. Robert Coblentz - filings
5. Robin Ficker - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings
6. Peter James - summary (no filings yet)
7. Joe Kryzstoforski - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings
8. Brandon Rippeon - summary - individual donors - PACS - filings

CD6: Delegate Kathy Afzali Releases Radio Ads for April 3rd GOP Primary // Delegate Steve Schuh Supports Her Campaign

Maryland lawmaker Kathy Afzali has released a series of new radio ads in her campaign for the 6th Congressional District Republican Primary. She also appears to have the support of Delegate Steven Schuh, who has recently donated funds to Afzali's campaign. See both items below:

Listen to the radio ads below. They are strung together in one audio segment on YouTube, and they come with the following text:

Frederick, MD -- Delegate Kathy Afzali, candidate for Congress in Maryland's 6th Congressional district, released her first set of radio ads today. The ads highlight Afzali's stance on I-270, the national debt, spending and on the debt crisis our nation is currently facing.

Afzali stated, "My goal with these radio ads is to show the voters in the 6th district why I'm the best choice for this seat. It's time for Roscoe to step aside and let someone with a fresh perspective lend their voice to the causes important to our district."

Please visit my campaign website for more information: KathyforCongress.com

CD6: Tea Party Blogger Accuses GOP Senator David Brinkley of Demeaning Women & Seeks Apology for Del. Kathy Afzali

Maryland Juice recently noted that Ann Corcoran, editor of the Potomac Tea Party Report, received a robocall from Sandra Fluke regarding the 6th Congressional District race. Ms. Fluke became famous after Rush Limbaugh called her a "slut" for defending contraceptive funding. It is not surprising then that the Tea Party blogger should want to prevent further such messaging problems from other Republican candidates.

Today, Ann Corcoran calls out State Senator David Brinkley for what she believes are demeaning comments aimed at rival candidate Delegate Kathy Afzali. Brinkley's campaign spokesman recently suggested Ms. Afzali has been telling "whoppers" on the campaign trail and would be better off working at Burger King. See an excerpt from the Potomac Tea Party Report response below:

Brinkley campaign spokesman puts foot in mouth, adds more fuel to ‘war on women’

This time it’s a Republican candidate, a sitting Maryland Senator, demeaning a woman!  What are they thinking?  Haven’t they been paying attention to the news!

Readers, I have tried not to get involved in the Republican primary race for the 6th District (where I live), but this put me over the edge and I have to say something.   Imagine Maryland Senator David Brinkley with several previous allegations of physical abuse involving his wife as well as an alleged 7 year adulterous affair with a staffer allowing his spokesman to make a derogatory comment of this nature about Del. Kathy Afzali who is running against him in the crowded Republican field.

Wouldn’t you think he would be smart enough to steer clear of anything that might smack of demeaning language aimed at a woman?

It is one thing to say she is exaggerating her record in Annapolis and quite another to suggest she should be working at Burger King.  Can you imagine for one minute that Brinkley’s staffer would suggest Roscoe Bartlett, or any of the men in this race should be working at Burger King.  Not a chance!  What?  Are attractive blond women somehow fair game?  This has got to stop!...

Is it any wonder so few women are willing to run for elected office?

Time for an apology Mr. Brinkley!

Ouch!

CD6 GOP: Del. Kathy Afzali Releases Video Comparing Rep. Roscoe Bartlett to Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi

Maryland 6th Congressional District Republican candidate Kathy Afzali released a new video comparing incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett to Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi. The video, which includes footage of Bartlett's floor speeches, comes with the following explanation:

Delegate Kathy Afzali, candidate for Congress in Maryland's 6th Congressional District, believes that energy independence is both necessary and possible. Delegate Afzali embraces an energy independence plan that promotes an "all of the above" approach, but does not ignore existing technology in favor of gambling with taxpayer money on high risk options.

Please visit my campaign website for more information: http://www.kathyforcongress.com

The video also appeared alongside a press release on Afzali's blog, titled: "Bartlett – Obama: Working Towards the Same Goal?"

FREDERICK, MD – Delegate Kathy Afzali, candidate for Congress in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, believes that energy independence is both necessary and possible. Delegate Afzali embraces an energy independence plan that promotes an “all of the above” approach, but does not ignore existing technology in favor of gambling with taxpayer money on high risk options.

Delegate Afzali stated, “Everyone talks about renewable sources of energy, but as it stands, we do not yet have the technology to stop using fossil fuels. While we are still developing these new technologies, we can decrease skyrocketing gas prices by expanding the amount of American-made oil. It is morally reprehensible that Roscoe Bartlett, Martin O’Malley, and President Obama are attempting to increase the cost of gasoline akin to cigarette prices in a misguided government attempt to deter demand. ”

Recently, Roscoe Bartlett released a campaign video touting his efforts to make America energy independent. Yet Bartlett’s record of voting against domestic drilling and energy production is well documented. Therefore, Delagate Afzali’s campaign has put together the following video to highlight similarities between President Obama’s plans for energy independence and those of Bartlett.

The Department of Energy was created over 30 years ago with the intention to help us gain energy independence. Afzali said, “Unfortunately, we are ignoring the possibilities that exist from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the shale present in our own district. I am in full support of natural gas drilling in Western Maryland. In the past 20 years that Congressman Bartlett has been in office, he has often opposed domestic drilling. I think that this is a mistake that has led to the energy mess we are in today.”

###

CD6: GOP Candidates Target Rep. Roscoe Bartlett at Debate: Time to "Pass the Baton" // Bartlett Criticizes Tea Party

UPDATE: In an interview on Bloomberg News, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett criticizes the Tea Party: 

Bartlett said he’s a “little concerned” that the Tea Party may have become “too much purists.” The debt increase was embedded in a bigger bill, he said in an interview. “I voted for it for the first time ever.”

With no clear Tea Party favorite in the Republican presidential race, the limited-government movement is pushing candidates for other elected offices. While many of the races are in safe Republican areas, others may drain party resources in districts, like Bartlett’s, where Democrats have a chance to win...

The Gazette's Katherine Heerbrandt has a write-up of a Republican candidates debate held last Thursday, in Frederick, Maryland (see excerpt below). The 6th Congressional District GOP candidates outlined their campaign platforms -- and many of them criticized incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett:

6th Congressional District Democratic & Republican Candidates Weigh In On Immigration // Read Their Views

The Gazette's by Katherine Heerbrandt has a great round-up of all of the 6th Congressional District candidates views on immigration. Hat tip to anti-immigrant group Help Save Maryland (BLECH!) for flagging the article. We excerpt the candidate statements below, but check out the full article at The Gazette:

American Mustache Institute Defends Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, Sounds Off on CD6 STACHE Act Critics

For those who have been following the STACHE Act, the American Mustache Institute has decided to speak out after Rep. Roscoe Bartlett was put through the ringer by his CD6 challengers. Yesterday, the group released the "Official AMI Statement On U.S. Representative Roscoe Bartlett and the Stache Act." See an excerpt below:

Since the Weekly Standard published the story, “Staffer Refers Mustache Bill to Committee, Without Congressman’s Consent,” there has been a furor over the relationship between the American Mustache Institute and the office of the ruggedly handsome Maryland 6th District Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, one of only 34 members of the U.S. House of Representatives with a finely tuned mustache.

Since then, the media has been ablaze as Rep. Bartlett’s vulturous opponents, including Kathy Afzali, John Delaney, and Rob Garagiola — smelling blood in the water and a fast-closing window to unseat the Congressman — have climbed up on their fragile soap boxes to bring down a noble Mustached American with a good-looking lower nose garment.

CD6: The STACHE Act Becomes a Campaign Issue // Delaney, Afzali and Brinkley Weigh in on $250 Mustache Tax Credit

Maryland Juice has been covering the evolving debate surrounding the STACHE Act, a proposed law that would grant mustached Americans a $250 tax rebate on hair-care products. News outlets recently reported that 6th Congressional District Rep. Roscoe Bartlett would send the bill to the House Ways & Means Committee for further study. Various contenders for the CD6 race are now using the STACHE Act as a campaign issue. MSNBC today reported:

MSNBC: The American Mustache Institute claimed Tuesday that Rep. Roscoe Bartlett had lent his support to the 'Stache Act, which calls for a tax deduction of up to $250 a year for facial hair grooming.

ROBIN FICKER: Del. Kathy Afzali on Ballot TWICE (in CD6 and CD8) // Tea Partier Joe Krysztoforski Ties Rep. Bartlett in Poll

Last week, Maryland Juice noted that Statehouse member Kathy Afzali was making splashes with her entry into the 6th Congressional District Republican Primary. She immediately invoked scandals involving State Senator David Brinkley and declared that incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett could not win re-election. Today Ms. Afzali's competitor, anti-tax activist and former Delegate Robin Ficker declared that she was not a serious candidate:

ROBIN FICKER: Afzali filed as a Romney Delegate to the Republican Convention on 11/16 and is still listed as such on the Maryland Board of Elections website.  She is not a serious candidate in Maryland 6th!

After a little bit of investigation, Maryland Juice has verified Mr. Ficker's claims: Del. Kathy Afzali will be appearing on the April Republican Primary ballot twice! She is running in the CD6 Primary for Congress and she is running in CD8 as an RNC Delegate for Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign:

Joseph Krysztoforski Wins CD6 GOP Poll? - Meanwhile, a reader informs us that the self-proclaimed Tea Party candidate in the CD6 race Joseph Krysztoforski has nearly beaten Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in an online poll on the Frederick County GOP website:

CD6 MEGAJUICE: Bombs Drop in Maryland's 6th Congressional District // Round-Up of DEM & GOP Campaign Tactics

WARNING: THIS IS AN OMNIBUS ROUNDUP OF CAMPAIGN TACTICS

Multiple campaigns are now in full swing in Maryland's 6th Congressional District, as incumbent Rep. Roscoe Bartlett faces serious challenges in both the April Republican Primary and the November General Election. The opening salvos from many of the candidates in both parties have been downright aggressive.

Below Maryland Juice prints a quick roundup of recent activities (both positive and negative) from the campaign trail. We begin with candidates in this April's Republican Primary and end with a discussion of the race between Democrats Rob Garagiola and John Delaney. 

Note: We do not highlight every candidate below, but you can see the full roster of hopefuls at Maryland Juice's U.S. House Candidate List. Make sure to read through to the end of this post, because we discuss some interesting new tactics emerging in the Democratic Primary. Without further ado, below is a splattering of CD6 juice:

6th District Republican Primary Roundup

Del. Kathy Afzali Uses Happy Marriage as Campaign Asset

JUICE #1: Delegate Kathy Afzali - I must start this roundup with a discussion of Republican lawmaker Kathy Afzali of Middletown, Maryland. She entered the race with a bang by jumping in on the eve of the filing deadline and immediately declaring that neither Rep. Roscoe Bartlett nor State Senator David Brinkley could win the General Election. The Gazette's Katherine Heerbrandt, printed the following comments from Ms. Afzali:

"I don't think they [Bartlett and Brinkley] can win against a Democratic challenger from Montgomery County. I can win...."

“Some of the candidates have personal issues that the Dems are going to use to the maximum. ... It could be an ugly and dangerous race,” Afzali said. “... Anyone running for election is going to be scrutinized. ... As for my personal life, I am pretty clean.”

Brinkley's affair with a staffer in 2008 and subsequent divorce may play a part in the election, but according to Don Murphy, a former state delegate and Brinkley's campaign chairman, that battle has been fought and won.

Indeed, Maryland Juice sources have in the past pointed us to news coverage of Mr. Brinkley's scandal noted above, including a Baltimore Sun article that discusses his claim that his wife used HIS hands to "hit herself in the face." The 2008 Sun article danced around the affair that led to the altercation:

CD6: GOP Delegate Kathy Afzali Bags Carpet to Run Against Rep. Roscoe Bartlett // Rep. Chris Van Hollen Gets a Pass in CD8

UPDATE: Del. Kathy Afzali is not running for Congress in CD8. She is carpetbagging into CD6 to join the parade of Republicans running against Rep. Roscoe Bartlett. Our previous headline for this article was "CD8: GOP Delegate Kathy Afzali to Challenge to Rep. Chris Van Hollen for Congress?" Given this development, we have obviously changed the title to reflect the facts. Two Maryland Juice readers forwarded her email announcement this morning:

I thought I would start the New Year right by letting you  know that I am running for Congress, District 6.

Now that I have gotten your attention, I will tell you why I think I am the best candidate for the job.

Here goes....