In Schaefer, Ehrlich Has Ally Across The Aisle

"He tried to find a way to get me," Schaefer said.

As soon as Ehrlich took office and the dry weather broke, the water was turned back on. A spigot of goodwill has continued to flow.

When Ehrlich was consumed with the closing days of the legislative session in April, he asked Schaefer to serve as first lady Kendel Ehrlich's escort to the Miss USA Pageant in Baltimore. At a public meeting a few days later, Ehrlich playfully teased Schaefer about the first lady coming home "disheveled" from her "date" that night.

Addressing the municipal officials in Ocean City last month, Ehrlich spoke of other ways in which he has tried to charm the comptroller.

"You know, when I get in trouble with him, I use a cake," Ehrlich said. "If I've really screwed up badly, I produce a cake and the first lady. And if I think I've really upset him, in a way maybe that my predecessor upset him on a daily basis, I call the cake out, I get the first lady and I bring the kids, too."

After the laughter subsided, Ehrlich peered out into the crowd, looking for Schaefer.

"Is he laughing?" he asked. "I think all of you know that we are incredibly good friends. He is my partner, and he is someone I listen to. . . . I listen to him every day."

At times, such guidance seems to lead Ehrlich astray, such as the controversy that ensued last year after Schaefer complained about a Spanish-speaking clerk at a McDonald's. Ehrlich later defended Schaefer on the radio and called multiculturalism "crap" and "bunk," remarks that brought a rain of criticism.

Views differ on what the charm offensive has netted Ehrlich, but Schaefer seems to side with the governor far more often than not these days.

He has joined Ehrlich in berating House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) for blocking legislation to legalize slot-machine gambling. Schaefer defended Ehrlich when the governor called a special session on medical malpractice without supportfrom leading legislators.

And Schaefer is a frequent ally on the Board of Public Works, a three-member panel that approves state contracts and has become a forum for the comptroller to rant about illegal immigration, the spread of AIDS or any other topics on his mind.

Schaefer said that teaming with Ehrlich in advertisements is an example of bipartisan cooperation from which others in state and national government could benefit.