Does anyone else find this puzzling as hell?
It is rather confusing, depending on just what they mean by "Baltimore area" and "remainder of the state excluding Baltimore and the nearby counties". Just what cities/counties are considered in these two areas?
Nevertheless, Ehrlich is best known in the "Baltimore area" since he has been elected there many times. He is less well known in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore but has great possibilities in both of these since they are more conservative and more Republican.
His big task will be in Baltimore city, Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties (lots of blacks, government workers, etc.).
One extremely good sign is his numbers among blacks (23%). Blacks in Maryland typically vote DemocRAT in excess of 90%. Lots of politically savvy people say that he has a very good chance if he can get 20% of the black vote. If the poll is correct, he's just about there (considering the possible error) or has exceeded that level.
Face it, he's gotta get some black votes for having had the courage to put a black Lt. Gov. candidate on his ticket, when the "big liberal, civil rights advocate, DemocRAT defender of the blacks" didn't pick a black running mate. Some blacks have got to see the hypocrisy.