In Maryland, Senate Race Now Deadlocked [Steele puts seat in serious play]

Political Wire ^ | September 20, 2006 | Political Wire

[Torie]

In Maryland, Senate Race Now Deadlocked

In Maryland's U.S. Senate race, a new SurveyUSA poll finds Ben Cardin (D) and Michael Steele (R) in a statistical tie, with Steele holding a 48% to 47% edge that's well within the survey's margin of error.

Key finding: Steele, who is black, gets 54% of white vote and 33% of the black vote, more than twice the support among blacks than fellow Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) in his race for governor.

Meanwhile, in the gubernatorial race, Martin O'Malley (D) leads Ehrlich by 7 points, 51% to 44%.

[Torie]

Steele has fantastic and original TV ads. You should check out the one about next they will be saying that Steele hates puppies. LOL. On one side of the polical bell curve are the hacks, and on the other side, is well, Mr. Steele! That is my non-partisan comment for the day. Cheers!

[mathprof]

Good news! Amazing for the People's republic of MD

[oceanview]

is there a consensus amongst polls showing this?

[Clintonfatigued]

This is EXCELLENT news.

GO, STEELE, GO!!!

[Clintonfatigued]

Not quite, though all agree it's competitive. The latest Rasmussen Reports has Cardin leading by 50% to 43%.

[mware]

I just saw that commerical. It is a hoot.

..by the way I love puppies.

LOL

[Sooth2222]

is there a consensus amongst polls showing this?

Rasmussen had Cardin by 7.

[Torie]

This is the first poll out after the primary that I know of, and the first one after the puppy ad. But the short answer is no. There is also some chat about a Cardin staffer slinging racial epithets around. I didn't know Dems were capable of that! No, it is no fair to tar Cardin with that, but sh*t happens.

"DEMOCRAT-HELD Maryland: Rep. Ben Cardin (D) has been thrown off his game this week by revelations that a member of his staff -- he characterizes her as "junior staff," although she described it differently -- kept a blog containing racial insults against Cardin's African-American opponent -- Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) -- anti-Semitic remarks, and other crass material."

The above squib is from the Novak political column, available by clicking on the link of another thread currently on FR.

[Torie]

The Rasmussen poll was taken before the primary, and came out the day after.

[Clintonfatigued]

That is a good sign. The big unknown is the extent of Steele's appeal among African-Americans.

[Paladin2]

Steel should do a similar one with a 'rat.

[NeoCaveman]

Here's the link to the puppy commercial

http://www.steeleformaryland.com/ideasVideo.htm

Might be the best ad I've seen in years. Certainly the best positive one.

[Torie]

The big unknown is whether the black support for Steele will hold, or whether they go back to old voting habits. Steele needs to continue to be original and break the mold, and make this race about other than national issues per se, and more about him as a person, who is charismatic and not boxable - sort of like McCain before he went rancid! There, I said it.

It would be huge if Steele won. It might have a rather galvanic effect on black voting habits nation wide (well galvanic is too strong a word, but material impact might be more like it), if he proves effective in office.

[tflabo]

Steele the election.

[Torie]

LOL. I wish I could smile like he does. My smile sucks.

[Torie]

Pingie poo.

[NewLand]

Steele will win. Write it down.

[RebelBanker]

I wish I were half as eloquent as he is. Scripted or not, Steele is an impressive speaker.

(And he loves puppies...)

[tflabo]

LOL. I wish I could smile like he does. My smile sucks.

Dont you say that. When Steele wins your smile will be as shining PEARLS......

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Steele will win. Write it down.

Scribbling