Howard County Executive Ken Ulman's fundraiser at Mother's in Federal Hill Monday night included an appearance by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

All signs have, up to now, have suggested that the big city mayor will be lining up with Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown in the 2014 gubernatorial race ... if he decides to get in. After all, she shares a fundraiser with Brown; Gov. Martin O'Malley stood by her in her most recent campaign; and the governor's brother, Peter is her chief of staff.

But Rawlings-Blake's attendence at Ulman's event, which is widely believed to be in preparation for a 2014 gubernatorial run, caught some people off-guard. It ignighted a wee bit of speculation during Tuesday's Democratic fundraiser in Annapolis that Brown is going to have to work for SRB's support.

SRB spokesman Ryan O'Doherty said that SRB "tries her best to be a gracious host to leaders from other counties who come to Baltimore" and noted that she also stopped by a gathering of Prince George's County lawmakers who've traveled to Baltimore for their annual retreat.