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Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot riled the ranks of the anti-slots movement and the Democratic Party this week by attacking party leaders verbally and in writing.
The increasingly venomous campaign, pitting Franchot and Gov. Martin O'Malley as the two most visible figures on each side of the debate, may have undercut the efforts of slots foes to communicate their message to voters in recent weeks.
Even the chairman of Marylanders United to Stop Slots, Charles E. Graham, considered resigning from the post this week amid Franchot's repeated comments criticizing O'Malley (D) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach for caving in to national gambling interests.
That came after Franchot accused the state Democratic Party of intentionally denying him a speaking slot at Monday's party gala to prevent him from demonizing slots at an event underwritten in part by several gambling companies.
State Democratic Party spokesman David Paulson said the omission was not meant to be disrespectful.
"We didn't have enough time to let everybody speak, so it is what it is and that's life," he said, noting that the comptroller was among the elected officials introduced and featured in a video montage played during the affair.
But Franchot stormed out of the event early and fired off a letter to party chairman Michael Cryor the next day expressing his disappointment with being left off the program.
"This was petty and below the dignity of the Maryland Democratic Party," he said, making numerous references to the "political bosses" who champion slots.
Franchot said Thursday that his criticism of slots is not intended to castigate O'Malley or put the spotlight on himself.
The leader of a separate anti-slots group said the group does not condone personal attacks and suggested that the rhetoric has gone too far.
"We wanted to stay at arm's length from personality politics. We don't want to vilify anybody, and we don't want to turn anybody into a star," said Aaron Meisner, chairman of Stop Slots Maryland. "We want to talk about the issue. From day one, we wanted to make sure that this did not become the Peter Franchot vs. Martin O'Malley show."
Even those not directly involved in the slots debate said they have noticed a negative personal tone taking hold as the issue dragged on.
"One of the things that's really concerned me is that increasingly it has felt much more like a dispute between a comptroller and a government than it is on the substance of the issue, and I think that's problematic," said U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Dist. 4) of Fort Washington.
Staff Writer Margie Hyslop contributed to this report.
