The battle for Maryland's Republican voters intensified yesterday, with Mitt Romney seeking a strong showing in Tuesday's presidential primary to halt the momentum of John McCain.
Until now, none of the Republican presidential candidates had established a strong campaign organization in Maryland, political observers said. But the state's 37 delegates have gained significance after this week's Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, as McCain scrambles to clinch the nomination and Romney hopes to stay alive in the race.
Hundreds of volunteers for both campaigns began calling potential supporters, distributing fliers and waving signs on busy streets yesterday, campaign organizers said.
Romney is scheduled to speak to Baltimore County Republicans tonight at an American Legion Hall in Halethorpe. McCain, meanwhile, canceled a trip to Europe this weekend and planned to travel around the state in his campaign bus.
McCain is heavily favored to win Maryland. But political observers said Romney appeared to have a stronger organization in the state that the Arizona senator.
One Romney supporter predicted that the former Massachusetts governor would do "extraordinarily well."
"I think his values are liked by the rank and file here," said Louis M. Pope, chairman of the Romney campaign in Maryland. "They are strong on enforcing immigration laws and strong on reducing taxes."
Attempts to reach former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's campaign yesterday were unsuccessful. Huckabee, who showed regional strength in carrying five Southern states on Super Tuesday, told CNN that he would be campaigning in Kansas, where Republicans will caucus Saturday. Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., will hold their primaries Tuesday.
McCain's challenge in Maryland, as in other states, will be winning over conservatives.
In 2000, McCain received overwhelming support from independents, who made up about 10 percent of the voters in the state's then-open Republican primary. But George W. Bush trounced him by a 2-to-1 margin among registered Republicans.
This year, no candidate has emerged as the favorite among conservative voters. Romney and Huckabee split the conservative vote on Super Tuesday.
Romney has won the endorsements of some conservatives in the General Assembly, including Del. Patrick L. McDonough, whose district includes parts of Baltimore and Harford counties.
McDonough predicted that many Republicans will vote against McCain in the primary because of his record on illegal immigration and campaign finance reform.
"The state party is split," McDonough said, but he added that "there's no question that Romney is gaining strength."
McCain, a Naval Academy graduate and a decorated Vietnam War veteran, could have an advantage among military veterans and defense workers who live in the state, supporters said.
"That's an instant constituency for John McCain. It's not for Huckabee, and it's not for Romney," said Donald E. Murphy, a former Baltimore County delegate who co-chairs McCain's campaign in Maryland.
Two of the state's most established Republicans, former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, have yet to endorse any of the remaining candidates.
Steele said yesterday that he planned to help whoever wins the party's nomination. But he cautioned McCain against taking Maryland's conservative voters for granted.
"He's got to really come to the table and instill in them a sense of respect and a sense of trust, that they can trust him to be a good steward of those issues that are important to them," Steele said.
josh.mitchell@baltsun.com tom.pelton@baltsun.com