I'm a little surprised to see that Harris conceded to Kratovil today. Wow.
Maryland's 1st District was designed to be a Republican district. It includes all of Maryland's Eastern Shore (mostly rural area) and some of central Maryland (rural-suburban areas like mine). It's always voted Republican. Harris beat Republican incumbent Gilchrest saying that moderate Gilchrest wasn't Republican enough. Kratovil jumps in as a barely-Democractic candidate - not talking at all about Democrats or party positions, rather, as the successor to Gilchrest's moderate legacy. Gilchrest endorses Kratovil [ed. CORRECTION - thanks for the catch!]. The DCC sees a chance for a pickup and pours money into the race. The RCC sees which way the wind is blowing, and worries about losing its normally safe seat. They pour money into the race.
Harris used a kitchen sink strategy, a potpourri of RCC boilerplate "Kratovil is a LIBERAL - that's BAD" commercials along with some Willie Horton style "Kratovil let a pedophile run free" attack ads and robocalls. Kratovil hit back with "Harris' voting record shows he's in the pocket of big corporations" but otherwise stuck to riding the anti-Bush tide. (see Baltimore Sun)
Talk Radio Right has started tinfoil hat conspiracy talk of the vote counting being tainted in some way, but for the most part, it's been a peaceful process - no Brooks Brothers riots on the Eastern Shore. So the Democrats pick up one more seat. Here's hoping they can keep it.