Democrats have not held power in Maryland's 1st Congressional District since Roy Dyson represented the Eastern Shore from 1981-1991. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) defeated Dyson in the 1990 elections, and has held the seat since, but when state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) defeated Gilchrest in the 2008 GOP primary, many Democrats began to focus on the district.

"I think this is the best chance we've had in years to reclaim the seat," Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Towson) of the 3rd Congressional District told PolitickerMD.com this past weekend.

The party's nominee, Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville), "represents a very strong candidate for Democrats," Sarbanes said.

While he acknowledged that he has only gotten to know Kratovil "relatively recently," Sarbanes said the candidate "is very focused on the economic issues that people are facing," and said his "background in the state's attorney's office" would be "very important to the voters."

In what is perhaps becoming the most common theme of the Kratovil campaign, Sarbanes stressed his "ability to connect with voters on both sides of the aisle" in a district that is considered right of center.

Nationally, Democrats have used images of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) appearing at events with President Bush in an attempt to link the two men together. While you won't find Harris arm and arm with the president in a TV ad, Sarbanes did mention Bush when asked about the Maryland legislator.

"There's a feeling in this country that the Republican Party and this president have not delivered," Sarbanes said. "The economy, with the deficit and debt, is certainly of prime example of that."

"A lot of conservatives find this very troubling," Sarbanes said. "They feel like their principles have been hijacked."

He specifically referred to conservatives who were upset "by the lack of fiscal responsibility," and said Kratovil could persuade some of them to come to his side in November.

"He understands what it takes to make a community work and is very down to earth," Sarbanes said.

Admitting that he did not know Harris "very well," Sarbanes said the senator's voting record "is very conservative" and is not "in sync with the voters of the 1st District."

Kratovil will need some of those disillusioned Republicans to turn the seat back into the Democratic column for the first time in nearly two decades.