Gansler Makes No Apology For Comments About Brown Relying On His Race For Votes

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Even though he's not announced he's running for governor, some comments by Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler are raising eyebrows, and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown is asking for an apology.

Political reporter Pat Warren spent the day on the Eastern Shore speaking with both men about the issue.

Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, on an agricultural tour of the Eastern Shore, takes exception to comments from Attorney General Doug Gansler, who is expected to run against him in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. These comments were recorded during a Gansler campaign meeting in July.

"Right now, his campaign slogan is, `Vote for me; I want to be the first African-American governor of Maryland,'" Gansler said in July.

"If anything, the voters of Maryland should get an apology because they deserve better. They deserve a campaign that's focused on issues that matter in the lives of our neighbors," Brown said.

Gansler says he was illegally recorded at the private campaign event and his remarks were taken out of context.

"I wouldn't know who to apologize to and for what. We said absolutely nothing inappropriate and if you look at the transcript--which we have and everybody has--we couldn't have been more forthcoming in saying this is specifically not about race but about our record and our vision, our character and our leadership qualities," Gansler said.

Both candidates declared they are dedicated to running campaigns that are all-inclusive.

Gansler says he will not issue an apology.