Ehrlich on Franchot

In the midst of a lengthy television interview about electricity rates this afternoon, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich had a not-so-positive prognostication for the political fate of Del. Peter Franchot.

Franchot (D-Montgomery), is running for comptroller in the Democratic primary against incumbent William Donald Schaefer, and against another recently announced challenger, Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens.

Ehrlich, a longtime political ally of Schaefer's, said Franchot was part of the "far left fringe of the Democratic party" and said Owens' entry into the race had only helped improve Schaefer's position.

As for Franchot, "I think he's going to come in third," Ehrlich said. "And if there are four people in the race, I think he's going to come in fourth."

Franchot says he doesn't usually mind being ribbed by the governor. The Takoma Park attorney has tried to exploit the close bond between Schaefer and Ehrlich, calling himself the "only Democrat" running for comptroller.

Matt Mosk