Still more developments are imminent in what D.C. insiders like to call the "staff sweepstakes." A source in the John McCain camp tells Election Central that the announcement of several top fundraisers who will help lead McCain's campaign finance committee is coming in the next few days, possibly tommorow. The source adds that the campaign will announce the names of a bunch of state chairs around the country, too. Stay tuned.

Update: Ben Smith has some names of the soon-to-be-announced finance committee members: New York Stock Exchange chief John Thain, RNC fundraiser Lew Eisenberg, and JPMChase vice-chair Jimmy Lee.

The interesting dynamic here, as Smith notes, is that these Wall Streeters could be seen as inhabiting Rudy Giuliani's fundraising "turf," since he ran their city for eight years -- and probably shook them down for campaign funds himself more than once.

Usually it's Dems who say that electronic voting machines are dangerous for our elections. But now a prominent Republican Governor has just come out and not only said exactly the same thing, but has also called for scrapping the $100 million voting machine system he oversees. According to the Washington Post Gov. Robert Erlich has called for dumping the state's Diebold voting machines in the wake of widespread malfunctions in last week's primaries — and it's the state Dems who oppose him on it. More after the jump.

Read more »

President Bush dropped into St. Mary’s county in Maryland yesterday to give a Labor Day speech. But the state's two top Republicans -- Gov. Robert Ehrlich and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele -- were both very conspicuous no-shows. The response from the state Democratic Party: "This Labor Day, Ehrlich and Steele are afraid to be seen with the most anti-working-class president since Herbert Hoover, even while they gleefully count his checks for their campaign."

A judge has put to a halt a Democratic backed plan to allow Maryland voters to vote in primary and general elections up to a week early, ruling that the proposal violates the state’s constitution. Governor Robert Ehrlich (R), who is running behind Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley in the polls, opposes early voting. Democrats are expected to appeal the decision that comes just weeks ahead of Maryland's primary.

Be it they desire fame, fortune or just want to spend $290 at the state Board of Elections office, 28 individuals have filed to run in the Maryland Senate primary race scheduled for September 12.

Read more »

Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich will officially announce his campaign for reelection today to news that he trails his challenger, Martin O’Malley (D), by 11 points in a new poll and the possible imminent collapse of a dam in Montgomery County caused by extreme rain fall in the Mid-Atlantic region over the past few days.

Read more »

Underdog candidate Doug Duncan (D) unexpectedly pulled out of the Maryland governor’s race today, just as his campaign appeared to be on the up tick following months of trailing Democrat Martin O’Malley in the polls and fundraising.

The Montgomery County executive said this afternoon that he had recently been diagnosed with clinical depression and wanted to focus on his health.

Read more »