Democrat Frank Kratovil received endorsements from four environmental groups on Monday including Clean Water Action, Environment Maryland, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, and the Maryland Sierra Club.

In a joint statement, the four groups bashed Kratovil's opponent, state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville), and praised the state's Attorney from Stevensville. "It is essential that we continue to have members of Congress who will stand up and speak out to protect the Chesapeake Bay," said David Phelps, national political director for Clean Water Action.

Anne Arundel County Sierra Club Chairman David Prosten called Kratovil's policies balanced and committed, before taking a shot at Harris.

"Andy Harris has shown nothing but contempt for efforts to protect the environment," Prosten said.

Environment Maryland's state director, Brad Heavner, had sour words for Harris as well.

"Electing Andy Harris would be like sending Dick Cheney back to Congress," he said. "Frank Kratovil supports common sense solutions to our energy crisis."

Maryland League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Cindy Schwartz called her organization's 9 percent lifetime score of Harris "abysmal."

Harris campaign manager Chris Meekins shot back, saying the energy policies of the four groups were the reason the country was in an energy crisis in the first place.

"They based their endorsement on the fact that he [Kratovil] opposes expanded domestic offshore drilling for oil and natural gas," Meekins told PolitickerMD.com. "Andy supports opening new areas for oil and natural gas exploration."

Kratovil and Harris are currently competing for Maryland's 1st Congressional District seat, which includes 12 of the 23 counties in the state, encompassing all of the Eastern Shore and portions of Harford, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties.

The Kratovil-Harris race is ranked the 51st most competitive U.S. House race in the nation on Politicker.com's Pindell Report. Politicker.com Managing Editor James Pindell lists the race as "Leans Republican."