The Democrat Party has a new challenger to Rep. Andy Harris in Maryland's 1st Congressional District, after voter fraud allegations ended the previous candidate's bid, but the odds of his beating the incumbent are slim.

The party had scrambled for a replacement since its primary winner Wendy Rosen had to drop out of the race on Sept. 10, after confirming reports that she had voted in two different states in more than one election.

Now, after a week-long search, the party has thrown its support behind John LaFerla, the 63-year-old gynecologist from Chestertown, who had lost in the primary to Rosen by just 57 votes...

But because LaFerla is late entering the campaign he will have to run as a write-in candidate, a distinct disadvantage.

"We've talked to the State Board of Elections, and unfortunately we're past the date, which leaves us with no legal means to add someone to the ballot," said Matthew Verghese, the Maryland Democrat Party political and communications director. "The party understands the reality of waging a write-in campaign."

LaFerla, however, is up for the challenge, said his campaign chief...

According to Saint Mary's College of Maryland Assistant Professor of Political Science Todd Eberly, a write-in campaign in District 1 is particularly problematic because the usually Republican district was made more so after redistricting this year.

"It's unlikely. The only time a candidate will win a write-in campaign this important is if there is a closely fought primary, and the losing candidate had substantial support," said Eberly. "This is what happened in Alaska in 2010 when Senator Lisa Murkowski lost the Republican primary but ran a successful write-in campaign in the general election...Write-in campaigns can succeed as well in states or districts where one party dominates and the party's nominee dies or suddenly withdraws."

Fortunately for Harris, none of these conditions are much of a factor...

Rosen withdrew from the race, with a strong push from the Democrat Party, once news broke that she had voted in Florida and Maryland in more than one election.

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Editor's Note: What's a little voter fraud, huh? I mean, not everyone can have a David Axelrod to dig up dirt on their opposition, so what's a Democrat to do?


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