GOP Candidates Offered 'Statement Of Unity' To Defeat Mikulski

MARYLAND – The Republican Primary on September 14, 2010 has produced a spirited contest for the office of U.S. Senator, facing the probable Democratic primary winner, Barbara Mikulski. According to official reports and announcements, on the Republican ballot will be seven candidates, including: Carmen Amedori, John F. Curran, John B. Kimble, Daniel W. McAndrew, Jim Rutledge, Corrogan R. Vaughn, and Eric Wargotz.

Daniel "The Whig Man" Vovak has proposed a "Statement of Unity" for the Republican candidates to sign, and has pledged $250 to the primary winner, should that person sign his form. Vovak says, "Although I will not be a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010, I was a candidate in 2006 and I remember perfectly well how Michael Steele treated the primary as a mere formality, never reaching out to any of his nine primary opponents, which hurt our Party in November 2006. In 2010, it's a different situation because the Republican primary is a wide-open contest. It's not that Maryland Democrats have been successful, it's Maryland Republicans who lose statewide seats through internal division. Once these candidates unify behind the primary winner, any Democrat can be defeated."

Vovak says that following last week's U.S. Senate candidates' debate in Montgomery County, every Republican candidate sought his support. Last November, Vovak, 37, lost to Audrey Scott, 74, in the race for Maryland Republican Chairman, though Vovak won Wicomico County. In spite of losing statewide, Vovak sincerely congratulated Scott following her decisive win and offered his help. Vovak says this "Statement of Unity" is something he practices and believes. He says, "If I had won the chairman vote, I would have proposed this same Statement to position Republicans for winning, long before Election Day. I have no doubt Audrey Scott shares the same goal."

Currently, three of the seven candidates have indicated they will sign the Statement. Because Vovak has not been able to speak directly with all of them, he said he will wait until all have been given ample time to respond before releasing their names, though those candidates can speak freely at any time with their supporters and the media, should they desire to do so.

Within the Maryland Republican Party Constitution, under Article 11, Section 2, d(2), Maryland's Republican Chairman must show no "partiality or prejudice" towards any Republican candidate before a primary. Article 2, Section 2 states that the Party "works towards the election of Republican nominees."