Doug Duncan and Martin O'Malley both want to be governor of Maryland. They may seem different, but they go to the same church. March 2006 Washingtonian

When Martin O'Malley launched his candidacy for Maryland governor, the telegenic mayor of Baltimore started his day with a campaign rally at the courhouse square in Rocvkille. Billed as a return to where O'Malley was raised, it was a you-can-go-home-again moment meant to catch the attention of the Washington media and Montgomery County voters.

A son of Montgomery County, raised in Betheda and Rockvkille, schooled in the District, the mayor delivered lofty remarks before a bank of television cameras, even quoting F. Scott Fitzgerald--who is buried at St. Mary's, the Rockville church O'Malley still attends occaisonally with relatives. "It is great to see so many friiends from theis place where I grew up," he said, in case anyone missed the point.

It was a time for gracious tatemnts, not jabs at his primary oppoennt, Montgomery County executive Douglas Duncan. But just beginning the day in Duncan's county seat and hometown, where Duncan too attends St. Mary's, seemed like chutzpah, like issuing a challenge in the other guy's backyard....