Hale, Kullen begin battle in earnest

Closely watched race shifts to high gear

Friday, Oct. 6, 2006

The media blitz, which also includes weekly mailers, is the first show of strength from a well-financed campaign that has been mostly quiet during the early stages of election season.

With voters headed back to the polls in less than five weeks, Hale (R) hopes the delayed but concentrated strategy will have a greater effect than early campaigning.

‘‘The rest of the campaign is pretty much on autopilot,” he said. ‘‘The rest of the days now are being out in the community.”

Kullen (D-Calvert), who was appointed in 2004 to replace former Del. George W. Owings III, has been knocking on doors for months. She was relatively unknown and had no political experience when she was nominated, but has worked hard since then to increase her profile.

‘‘The campaign has been in full swing for two years,” she said. ‘‘We’ve had a grassroots message all along.”

Still, Republicans consider Hale, the top vote-getter in each of the last two commissioner elections, one of their best chances to pick up a seat in the legislature.

One of Hale’s 30-second television spots, which started airing on Sept. 18, is filmed on the North Beach boardwalk. The other was taped outside the State House in Annapolis.

Each gives a brief overview of his accomplishments at the local level and his commitment to those issues in Annapolis.

‘‘You’re not going to do much in 30 seconds,” he mused.

The North Beach ad points to his efforts to limit growth, improve transportation and enhance education and pledges to protect the Chesapeake Bay, provide affordable healthcare and attract high-paying jobs.

The Annapolis spot focuses on the need for more equal representation and cooperation between elected officials.

‘‘We need balanced government that can accomplish things without all the bickering between the Republicans and the Democrats and without reaching into our wallets for more tax dollars,” Hale says in the ad.

Neither of the ads mentions his party affiliation.

Hale called it an attempt to emphasize policy over politics. He said it would be ‘‘contradictory” to talk about less partisan bickering while flaunting his party affiliation in the ad.

The district, which stretches from Calvert’s northern border to Port Republic, includes a nearly equal number of registered Republicans and Democrats, he said.

Hale made clear that he is not trying to conceal his GOP affiliation

‘‘It’s not a question I shy away from,” he said. ‘‘I’m not embarrassed. I’m not trying to hide it, I’m just trying to not flaunt it.”

A third advertisement will be filmed this week, he said. All three will run through the Nov. 7 election.

Hale has also run four print advertisements that he said would ‘‘grow in size and color” as the election nears. In one, he tries to appeal to the general public by painting himself as a ‘‘regular person, just like you.”

‘‘I commute with you on Route 4, work at a regular job where I strive to satisfy my clients’ needs and work to provide a paycheck and healthcare to my employees,” the ad reads. ‘‘I mow the lawn, pay the electric bill and hope there is enough left to put away a little for the kids’ college funds.”

Political analysts don’t see many ideological differences between the two candidates, and Hale concurred. ‘‘Lots of local offices are not decided on the issues. We are 80 to 90 percent through this [election] and people are asking more about us than the issues.”

Despite being the challenger, Hale’s success in previous elections and his name recognition may make him the favorite.

‘‘It’s not anything that she’s done,” he said. ‘‘I’ve been through two election cycles and I’ve sat on TV for eight years.”

Kullen has yet to air television ads and would not disclose whether her campaign would do so.

‘‘We’re not revealing any secrets at this point,” she said. ‘‘We have a lot in the pipeline, but folks will just have to stay tuned.”

Like Hale, she also indicated that party affiliation would not be mentioned in her ads. The incumbent said she represents all constituents and ‘‘it’s not necessarily important for me to make that distinction.”

Kullen said she is campaigning to everyone, not just targeted Democratic voter lists.

‘‘I promise people all along that I don’t play partisan politics,” she said. ‘‘I’m a proud Democrat, but I’m hoping that people see beyond labels to pick the best person to represent them.”

E-mail Alan Brody at abrody@somdnews.com.