Republican Larry Hogan’s aggressive challenge to Democratic Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown in the race for governor in deep-blue Maryland has made the contest competitive enough to draw national political figures into the fray, including President Obama and Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Mr. Obama plans to campaign Sunday with Mr. Brown in Prince George’s County, Maryland, which is home to a large population of black voters that the Brown campaign needs to turn out on Election Day.
Mr. Hogan is getting a boost from Mr. Christie, chairman of the Republican Governors Association and a potential 2016 GOP presidential contender, who will return to Maryland for a second fundraiser next week in Potomac, Maryland.
Mr. Christie raised money for Mr. Hogan last month at a fundraiser in Bethesda, saying he believed that Mr. Hogan could win in a Democratic state such as Maryland, where Republicans voters are outnumbered 2 to 1.
Other Republican leaders are taking notice of Mr. Hogan’s campaign.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, the first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, will headline a fundraiser Monday for Mr. Hogan in Gambrills, Maryland, the Hogan campaign announced.
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and possible 2016 Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Jeb Bush have made fundraising appeals on behalf of Mr. Hogan.
A Baltimore Sun poll last week showed 7 percentage points separating the candidates, with Mr. Brown leading Mr. Hogan 49 percent to 42 percent. About 25 percent of Mr. Browns supporters said they could still change their minds, while just 13 percent of Mr. Hogan’s supporters said the same.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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