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‘‘Absolutely, we should not allow slots to be part of that mix. It’s fiscally irresponsible and morally reprehensible,” Franchot (D) said last week.

That puts him at odds with Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), who favors a limited number of slot machines at racetracks only to preserve Maryland’s foundering thoroughbred industry. The governor wants lawmakers to wait until next year to pursue a slots plan.

The men’s divergent views have prompted some to speculate about the intriguing possibility that the comptroller could galvanize liberal Democrats, who are largely opposed to slots, and challenge O’Malley from the left in 2010.

It’s not that farfetched to envision Franchot entering the race if O’Malley has low approval ratings, one academic says.

‘‘By taking these political positions and putting O’Malley somewhat on the defensive, I think he’s setting himself up to potentially run for O’Malley’s seat if the situation presents itself,” said Ronald W. Walters, a political science professor at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The slots debate took center stage last week at the Montgomery County Democratic Party’s annual brunch in North Bethesda, where local, state and federal elected officials joined several hundred party activists.

With O’Malley sitting several feet away, Franchot said the state should find ways other than legalizing gambling to replenish its coffers. Legislators should focus on more important issues, he said.

‘‘Once again, the people’s business has been put on the back burner while we debate slot machines,” Franchot said.

O’Malley’s response was reserved. ‘‘I disagree with [Franchot] on slots, but that doesn’t make him a bad person.”

But several who witnessed the dustup said Franchot’s blunt comments appeared to rile O’Malley and demonstrated the comptroller’s desire to maintain a high profile.

‘‘I thought it was classic Franchot willing to stand up for an issue he believes in in an environment where it might not be politically comfortable,” said one brunch attendee, who asked not to be named for fear of offending either man.

A divisive issue

The encounter could reflect a chink in the get-along posture of top Democrats since O’Malley took office in January. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. badgered the governor to move quicker on his Cabinet appointments and urged him to tackle the budget gap this year, but Franchot’s rabid anti-slots stance is starkly different from O’Malley’s on an issue that has consumed Annapolis in recent years.

O’Malley is wise to stake out a middle-of-the-road position on slots because of the strong feelings on both sides of the issue, Walters said.

‘‘If he takes a position for slots and there’s a serious movement against it, it could be the end of his second term,” he said. ‘‘And if he takes a position against it ... some of his financial backers [who support gaming] could turn against him.”

Recent history holds a lesson that shows Franchot could be dangerous if he can mobilize liberal Democrats, said House Minority Whip Christopher B. Shank (R-Dist. 2B) of Hagerstown.

‘‘That base demonstrated in the 2006 elections that when there is a limited turnout, the liberal wing of the party has a disproportionate voice in who gets nominated,” Shank said, referencing Franchot’s victory in the three-way primary for comptroller.

For now, Franchot said, he is focusing on his immediate tasks as comptroller, and pledged to partner with O’Malley to right Maryland’s fiscal ship as long as slots are not part of the equation. He offered no clues to his plans for the future.

‘‘I support Martin O’Malley. I think he’s a great governor. He’s a breath of fresh air in Annapolis with his programs,” Franchot said, ‘‘but I will oppose the introduction of slot machines until the last dog dies.”

Despite holding an office with little policymaking clout, Franchot has wasted no time implementing an aggressive agenda.

In less than two months, the comptroller has:

*Announced a new policy to close a corporate tax loophole that he says has cost the state millions of dollars.

*Backed an enhancement of the state’s refundable earned income tax credit.

*Conducted sting operations on motor fuel tax violators, illegal cigarette sales and gaming machines.

*Endorsed the divestiture of Maryland retirement equities in foreign companies that do business with the Sudanese government.

*Testified in favor of a statewide smoking ban in restaurants and bars.

Franchot’s gamble

A close Franchot ally said the bold agenda should be no surprise and could be part of a larger political strategy.

‘‘He’s going to use every opportunity to keep visible,” the ally said. ‘‘He’s had a reputation over the years for only the ‘T’ being silent. I don’t think he’s going to change his stripe.”

Others say Franchot has a lot to gain — or lose — in the battle over slots.

‘‘I know that Peter has the ability to issue the clarion call about the concerns of slots and can help mobilize a lot of folks,” said Del. William A. Bronrott (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda. ‘‘It’s about slots. It’s not Franchot versus O’Malley.”

Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach, the legislature’s chief slots backer, said Franchot should ‘‘tread carefully” on slots if he has higher political ambitions.

And because slots is not the hot-button issue it once was, Franchot would have to broaden his base of support beyond anti-slots voters to run for higher office, said Zach Messitte, a St. Mary’s College of Maryland political science professor.

The only certainty is that Franchot will use slots as a platform to stay in the public spotlight over the next four years, Messitte said.

‘‘He wasn’t born to live and become comptroller,” he said. ‘‘He isn’t ever going to be the kind of guy who is going to fade into the woodwork and simply rubber-stamp what the administration is going to do. He’s his own political engine and this is the perfect political issue for him to say, ‘I’m not part of a slate. I’m my own person.’”

Staff Writer Janel Davis contributed to this report.