Barkley's Backers Dispute His Characterization

Friends of Del. Charles E. Barkley (D-Montgomery), a candidate to succeed Sen. P.J. Hogan in the 39th District in Montgomery County, rallied to his defense last week.

Jan Watson, a Democratic activist in Montgomery, said she represented a large group of Barkley's friends who strongly disagree with a characterization of Barkley in last Sunday's Annapolis Notebook column. In it, Barkley acknowledged a perception among some in the General Assembly that he makes some female delegates uncomfortable, although the delegates would not speak publicly. He told The Washington Post that the "innuendoes" were "a bunch of hooey."

Watson said the reporting and the characterization were unfair.

"I've known Charlie Barkley for years, and many of us felt that this accusation was completely off-base," Watson said. "He's a good man."

Watson said Barkley has considerable support from women in the legislature.

Meanwhile, Del. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery), who has entered and pulled out of the race a few times, is back in this week, according to the Democratic Central Committee, which will submit a name to Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on Aug. 14.

King had said last week that she preferred to stay in the House of Delegates, where she chairs a subcommittee, rather than be a freshman in the Senate. But Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) was pressing hard for her to get in the race. After meeting with Miller this week, King was back in.

The other candidates competing to succeed Hogan are freshman Del. Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery) and former delegate Gene W. Counihan.

-- Lisa Rein

O'Malley Urges Democrats To Take Back Security

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) argued last week that Democrats need "to become again the party of security."