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First District Candidates Campaign Monday

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Feb 11, 2008 6:52 pm US/Eastern

First District Candidates Campaign Monday

Reporting
Mike Hellgren
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― A strong challenge for incumbent Republican Wayne Gilchrest as two high-profile state senators vie for his seat.  The district covers the entire Eastern Shore and parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford counties.

As the candidates made their final campaign pushes, sources are telling Eyewitness News inside polling shows the race is extremely tight.

A poll commissioned by challenger EJ Pipkin in late December showed the race is a near statistical dead heat, with Gilchrest having a slight edge.

"We've had serious challengers in the past.  A campaign is a campaign is a campaign," Gilchrest said.

Television ads have shown how contentious this battle really is.

Andy Harris, who stumped for votes along Ritchie Highway Monday, has said Gilchrest is not conservative enough.

"It's going to be who's the real Reagan-style conservative," he said.

Iraq, immigration and the economy have been hot topics.

Pipkin challenged Harris on his vote for electricity deregulation.

"If you think this is an economic [decision]," he said, "I'm your candidate."

Gilchrest has served the first district for nine terms and is endorsed by President Bush and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

He appeared Monday morning at a McCain campaign rally, also attended by former Governor Ehrlich, who's endorsing Harris.

"If your constituents see you as competent and informed and having integrity, then you'll get re-elected," he said.

Because this district skews Republican, the winner of the primary could very well take the general election.  With the race this tight, every vote counts.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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