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Exclusive interview with Maryland's former governor

By Bluey Posted in 2008 | Featured Stories — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

When Bob Ehrlich was governor of Maryland, he campaigned tirelessly to pass slots legislation in lieu of a tax hike. These days, Ehrlich is putting his money on a new project: electing Rudy Giuliani president in 2008.

The former Maryland governor, who was defeated last November despite a near 60% approval rating, spoke to me today about life in the private sector, lessons from the 2006 election and why he's backing Giuliani.

My exclusive interview took place before CNN's report that Giuliani supports taxpayer-funded abortions, so I didn't get a chance to ask Ehrlich about it. However, I did pose to him the question many social conservatives have on their mind: How can anyone who opposes abortion possibly support a candidate with Giuliani's views?

Read on ...

Ehrlich identified it as Giuliani's biggest challenge, saying the former New York mayor needed to do a better job connecting with social conservatives on an issue they care about very deeply. Personally, Ehrlich described his own views on abortion as "moderate" (he supports abortion rights), and said that while he and Giuliani certainly don't agree on everything, he was comfortable with Giuliani's policy views on marriage, gun rights and stem cell research.

Given the media's coverage of Giuliani's personal life -- wife Judith Nathan has been all over the tabloids in New York -- Ehrlich identified this as Giuliani's second biggest hurdle.

Ehrlich told me Giuliani's record on taxes and other fiscal matters and his strong national security credentials would continue to be his greatest strengths. It was on that note that I asked Ehrlich about Giuliani's performance as mayor. Unlike most people who talk about Giuliani's tenure, Ehrlich deliberately avoided mentioning 9/11, noting the accomplishments the mayor achieved before terrorists struck the World Trade Center.

So what does Ehrlich get out of this? He's still young (he turns 50 later this year) but resides in a state that took a dramatic turn left last November. Ehrlich told me he hasn't closed the door on a future run for public office, but doing so in Maryland might be out of the question given the political dynamics of the state.

Could Giuliani carry Maryland if he gets the Republican nomination? Ehrlich wasn't as optimistic as I expected for being a Giuliani cheerleader, but that could have something to do with Ehrlich's own defeat last November (coupled with Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's loss in the U.S. Senate race). However, and I think this could be true, Ehrlich said Giuliani has the best chance of any Republican to win the state in 2008. And even if that doesn't happen, Ehrlich said, Giuliani could make it competitive enough where the Democrat nominee would have to spend money there.

Becoming a Giuliani supporter wasn't always a given for Ehrlich, according to press accounts. He grew close to Mitt Romney during Romney's tenure as head of the Republican Governors Association. He also has a good relationship with former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and spoke of his "great respect" for John McCain. However, it was the strong personal bond he formed with Giuliani on the campaign trail last year that convinced him. (Ehrlich also said his wife Kendel is a big fan.)

On the GOP's losses in 2006, Ehrlich cited three factors: 1) congressional scandals, 2) uncontrollable spending, and 3) the Iraq War. Two of those won't be an issue in 2008, but Iraq most certainly will be. Ehrlich said the candidate who can best articulate why the United States must win the War on Terror would have the clearest path to the White House. He's got that right. Whether Giuliani's the man who will be able to do it remains to be seen.