Lawyer's last-minute loan helped O'Malley

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ANNAPOLIS (AP) -- Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley spent about $1.8 million in the closing days of the gubernatorial campaign, part of it financed with a $500,000 loan from Joseph Coale, a retired Washington lawyer who has been active in national Democratic Party affairs.

"The campaign made a strategic decision ... that we needed additional funds," O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said yesterday. "The governor-elect borrowed it from a friend. It is money that must now be repaid in the coming year."

Mr. Abbruzzese said the Baltimore mayor raised about $14.4 million during the four-year election cycle from 2003 through 2006 when he was running first for mayor and then for governor.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Maryland's first Republican governor in three decades, raised about $17.9 million during that same period, Ehrlich campaign spokesman John Reith said. Mr. Ehrlich's report showed that he had unpaid debts of $268,709 and a cash balance of $647,905.27.

Mr. Coale, who is serving on the governor-elect's transition steering committee, said he made the loan because he and Mr. O'Malley are friends. "I don't think I've ever had any business with the state or the city," he said.

Mr. O'Malley defeated Mr. Ehrlich by 116,740 votes in unofficial returns. But with some late polls indicating that the race was close, both candidates conducted heavy advertising campaigns in the days leading up to the election.

The governor's reports showed that he and running mate Kristen Cox spent more than $1.8 million on advertising, not including direct mail. Mr. O'Malley reported spending more than $1.2 million on media buys.

Yesterday was the deadline for candidates for state office to file reports on how much money they raised and spent from Oct. 23 to Nov. 21.

Mr. O'Malley and Lt. Gov.-elect Anthony G. Brown reported contributions of more than $1 million during that period. Reports filed by Mr. Ehrlich and Mrs. Cox showed contributions of just under $1 million. Those totals do not include other receipts such as donations from federal committees and state political action committees.