Watch this Maryland race

A new public opinion poll shows that Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, a relatively liberal Republican who has represented Maryland’s 1st Congressional District for 16 years, faces a difficult fight to retain his seat in the Feb. 12 primary. The survey by McLaughlin & Associates has Mr. Gilchrest ahead with 33 percent of the vote, and state Sens. E.J. Pipkin and Andy Harris in a virtual tie with 27 percent.

Even though Mr. Gilchrest votes with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi more than any other House Republican, he is receiving surprising support from from two prominent conservative Republicans: former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, both of whom attended an Annapolis fundraiser for Mr. Gilchrest on Thursday. At the fundraiser, Mr. Gingrich warned against “purging” party members they disagree with. Mr. Steele didn’t directly endorse Mr. Gilchrest (saying he would speak at Harris or Pipkin events if invited), but he praised Mr. Gilchrest’s work and urged attendees to “help Wayne.” On Saturday, Mr. Steele, appearing on WBAL Radio, said Gilchrest critics are wrong to use “litmus tests” on issues such as abortion, tax cuts and immigration.

Interestingly, the legitimate criticisms of Mr. Gilchrest are not about trivial legislation or resolutions. Indeed, they deal with Mr. Gilchrest’s voting record and statements, and raise concerns as to whether he is out of touch with residents of his conservative-leaning district, in which President Bush won 62 percent of the vote in 2004. For example, Mr. Gilchrest was wrong on the Iraq troop surge: In March, he was one of two Republicans to join Mrs. Pelosi and virtually the entire House Democratic Caucus in voting to set a timetable for troop withdrawal. He is also wrong on Iran: suggesting that Tehran is misbehaving because the Bush administration failed to conduct a “dialogue” with Iran.

According to the Club for Growth, Mr. Gilchrest earned a 0 percent rating in voting against 46 amendments to strip pork-barrel spending projects from fiscal 2008 appropriations bills. He earned a 100 percent rating in 2006 from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Mr. Gilchrest has a mixed record on illegal aliens: voting on at least three occasions in 2004 and 2005 against amendments denying certain types of federal funding to sanctuary cities; supporting amnesty for more than 800,000 illegal-alien agricultural workers in 2007; and voting in favor of awarding illegals from Mexico with Social Security benefits in 2004.

For these and other reasons, The Washington Times already has endorsed Andy Harris. The facts on the issues should be brought to voters’ attention.