TOMORROW: Mitt Romney is Coming to Maryland // GOP Delegates Are in Play! - Who Did MD Officials Endorse?

Maryland is apparently going to be a contested state in the heated battle for the Republican Presidential nomination. The GOP Primary is Tuesday, April 3rd -- but early voting starts this Saturday! Mitt Romney is going to be in town tomorrow to rally the troops and round-up votes. Details below:

Join Mitt and Team Maryland on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. for a town hall meeting at American Legion Post 109 at 1610 Old Sulphur Spring Road, Arbutus, MD 21227.

The Washington Post had a quick synopsis on the state of the GOP presidential race in Maryland. See an excerpt below:

In the delegate contest, Maryland offers 37 this year; 24 will be awarded based on the winners of each of the state’s eight congressional districts, 10 will go to the statewide winner and the last three are controlled by state party leaders....

“I’d have to say it’s a strong case for Mitt Romney,” said Louis Pope, the Republican National Committeeman for Maryland and co-chairman — along with former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. — of the Romney campaign in the state....

Santorum, whose campaign did not respond to requests for comment, makes no mention of Maryland on his Web site....

The presidential campaign of Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) also did not respond to a request for comment about his efforts in Maryland’s GOP primary.

As for former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond said “plans are underway to visit the state soon.”

Gingrich has the backing of Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), who is co-chairing Gingrich’s Maryland campaign along with Del. Warren E. Miller (R-Howard)....

Harris said Gingrich has a fighting chance in the state, because “we have a grass-roots network” and because Maryland Republicans aren’t a clear ideological fit with Romney....

Several members of the General Assembly and a handful of state party officials, including vice chairwoman Diana Waterman and then-executive director Justin Ready, endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry in the fall, before his candidacy fizzled out.

Bartlett, who is neutral, said he couldn’t pick a favorite among Romney, Santorum and Gingrich. “I don’t think it leans toward any of those three,” he said. 

If you are curious, I have copied below the list of Romney's key Maryland endorsers:

Fmr. Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

BREAKING: Del. Richard Impallaria to Run for Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger's Seat // Plus, A New Liberty Candidate Filing?

UPDATE: The Baltimore Sun today prints an interview with Delegate Impallaria where he explains his reasons for running for Congress. Also, I believe we have identified the mysterious new gold coin-carrying Congressional candidate in Maryland: Peter James, a former CD4 candidate who was endorsed by Ron Paul in 2008. We found the following post from Mr. James on a blog today:

I filed to run in Maryland's new 6th Congressional. With a total of 8 candidate's running in the primary I believe the other will split the RHINO/neocon vote and I will win.

I ran in Maryland's 4th district in 2008 and won with 39% of the vote in a 4 way race. 14% points ahead of the party favorite, who spent twice what I did. All this with one $2,500 mailer.

Today, a Maryland Juice source reports that Delegate Pat McDonough was with Delegate Richard Impallaria today at the State Board of Elections. Mr. Impallaria was there submitting paperwork for the 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary. The seat is currently held by Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. Republican State Senator Nancy Jacobs has already filed for the race.

Our source also noticed a potential Ron Paul supporter filing for Congress: