O'Malley returns to kitchen, Ehrlich to barber

The moms lavished O'Malley with praise for his vision. Several told him they were happy he was able to take the long view -- by requiring tougher building standards, for example -- even during a bad economy.

"We've had to cut and cut and cut and cut again, but we're making progress," O'Malley said. "We're protecting our priorities."

One mom treaded into sensitive territory by telling the governor that her 7-year-old child didn't understand why his two mommies can't get married. She asked O'Malley how he feels about gay marriage.

O'Malley stuck to his view that civil unions are a better option for Maryland than same-sex marriage, though he said he'd sign either legislative change into law. He said the state should focus on providing equality to same-sex couples, reminding the mom that he'd helped give gay partners hospital visitation rights.

The mom didn't press the marriage issue. (Some gay rights groups have called for O'Malley to vocally support gay marriage, not just civil unions.)

O'Malley and Smith repeatedly referenced the importance of the kitchen table during the hourlong talk. O'Malley told the moms that he'd decided to hold kitchen table talks because that's where important family decisions are made.

He said he pictures such family discussions whenever making a decision about how to govern the state. During the 2006 talks, he said, he promoted the importance of halting years of steep college tuition rises, which he did until approving a slight increase this year, and stepping up public school construction and renovation -- another point of pride in his administration.

Longtime Ehrlich followers are no doubt familiar with Magee. His barber shop is papered with photos of Ehrlich (often pictured while getting a haircut) and another lawmaking fan, Del. John S. Arnick, a Democrat who represented the area for many years. He died in 2006.

Ehrlich called the shop "another branch of my world." Ater the television cameras and supporters dissipated, Ehrlich got a haircut.