Parris N. Glendening Glendening, with his wife, Frances Anne, arrives to vote on Primary Day. (By Bill O'Leary - The Post) Post Stories • Glendening Calls on Party • Rematch of '94 Set • Glendening Won't Join Clinton • Curry Still Won't Back Governor • Proving Power of Incumbency • Analysis: Parris Still a Puzzle • A Forceful Reelection Bid • Former Ally Now Against Him

By Robert E. Pierre
and Donald P. Baker
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 1, 1998; Page D01

Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening yesterday happily accepted the endorsement of a leading gun control advocate, former White House press spokesman James S. Brady, who agrees with the governor's tough stance on guns.

But as the Nov. 3 general election nears, the dozens of endorsements Glendening has collected have been overshadowed by those he hasn't received.

Former state lieutenant governor Melvin A. Steinberg, a Democrat, endorsed Glendening's Republican challenger, Ellen R. Sauerbrey. A former Glendening cabinet official plans to do the same later this month. And the Democratic leaders of three of the state's largest jurisdictions -- Baltimore and Prince George's and Harford counties -- have yet to bless the governor's candidacy. All three have criticized Glendening for not delivering on what they said were the governor's promises to support everything from slot machines to school aid.

Ellen R. Sauerbrey Former president George Bush backed up Sauerbrey at a recent fund-raiser. (By Rick Bowmer - The Post) Post Stories • Message, Money Key in Race • Steinberg Endorses Sauerbrey • Nominees Ready Strategies • Sauerbrey Plays Down '94 • Fund-Raising Gains Momentum • Sauerbrey Proposes Tax Cut • Campaign Attracts Heavyweights • Sauerbrey Launches New Bid

Yesterday, Sauerbrey picked up the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business. And today she is scheduled to be endorsed by Democrat Timothy F. Maloney, a former state delegate from Prince George's and longtime Glendening foe who has remained active in state politics, and Charles Benton, who was budget secretary under former governor William Donald Schaefer.

While many Democrats predicted party leaders would come together soon after last month's primary, the fact that so many prominent names still remain on the sidelines may mean trouble for Glendening in a race many polls suggest is too close to call, some political analysts said.

"When you're facing such a razor-thin margin, any chink in one's armor will be crucial," said pollster Keith Haller of Potomac Survey Research.

He said Glendening could be particularly hurt by the cool reception he has received so far from Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke and Prince George's County Executive Wayne K. Curry. "That sends a very troubling message to voters who may be needing that extra motivation" to go to the polls, Haller said.

Party leaders have dismissed Steinberg's endorsement as the rantings of a sore loser, still upset over his own loss to Glendening four years ago. And Glendening maintains it will not be long before his troubles with Democrats such as Curry, Schmoke and Eileen M. Rehrmann, the Harford County executive who challenged him in the primary, become a thing of the past.

"We'll come together," Glendening said yesterday at a news conference with gun control advocate Brady, who was partially paralyzed in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981. "In fairness, after a tough primary campaign, it's difficult to say, 'Okay, our candidate didn't make it.' For some it takes longer" to get over it.

Still, some top Democrats continue to keep Glendening at bay.

Rehrmann is scheduled to give Sauerbrey an hour-long tour of the county. But her spokesman, George Harrison, said Rehrmann has no intention of formally endorsing Sauerbrey.

So why the tour?

"I guess you can interpret it whatever way you want," Harrison said. "Eileen is very proud of her programs, and the Republican candidate asked to see them."

Schmoke and Curry, who both endorsed Rehrmann, also have refused so far to endorse Glendening, although there have been talks between Glendening aides and the two men. Glendening met with Curry on Friday.

"The process of reconciliation is ongoing," said Curry, who has sought more money for school construction and for the state to pick up the costs of running the Circuit Court, the board of elections and state's attorney office.

"I'm encouraged that the agenda we set forth is being considered," Curry said. "I have spoken to the governor. We had a frank talk. His political people are going to talk to our political people to see if we can't achieve a common agenda."

Schmoke, meanwhile, also has not reconciled with Glendening. He has been unhappy that Glendening canceled a fund-raiser with President Clinton, a good friend of Schmoke's. (Vice President Gore, though, is scheduled to appear at a Glendening fund-raiser on Oct. 27, campaign officials said.)

Alonza Williams, a Schmoke spokesman, said at this point, Schmoke is "not endorsing."

"He will support the Democrats' nominee for governor," Williams said.

It's not that Glendening is without support from Democrats. U.S. Reps. Steny H. Hoyer and Albert R. Wynn and Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan strongly back his campaign, as do many Democrats in the state legislature.

"People are enthusiastic about [Glendening's] record of more jobs, more school construction money, a cleaner environment, tough gun control laws and good progressive leadership," said state Del. Cheryl C. Kagan (D-Montgomery).

"Unfortunately it doesn't always follow that they are enthusiastic about him as a person. But frankly that's irrelevant. The record is what counts."