Ehrlich: Keep Purple Line Off the Green

Gov. Robert Ehrlich pounded the flesh along the Red Line yesterday and later wagged his finger at the Purple Line, the Washington Post reports.

As part of his re-election campaign, Ehrlich (right) joined his running mate, fellow Republican Sec. Kristen Cox, at the Silver Spring Metro station to shake hands and kiss babies. It was not clear whether Ehrlich or Cox took questions from commuters.

The governor did catch some flack, however. The Baltimore Sun records one commuter telling Ehrlich, "You're going to lose, big time."

He also made a pit stop at Chevy Chase's Columbia Country Club, site of a proposed path for the Purple Line light rail. Ehrlich opposes a Purple Line route through the club's golf course because it would not be "cost effective" and would destroy "thousands and thousands of trees" along the adjacent Capital Crescent Trail, the Post writes.

According to Ehrlich's campaign website, his top transportation priority is the Intercounty Connector, which would link Interstates 370 and 95. He also takes credit for launching studies into the Purple Line's development.

Image courtesy of the Washington Post. Props to Silver Spring Singular for the lead.

"Md. Governor's Race Running at 2 Speeds" (Washington Post)
"O'Malley Upbeat as Bus Tour Begins" (Baltimore Sun)