Cardin starts with 11 point lead for MD Senate battle

I expected the numbers to be closer but it won't surprise me to see this tighten up as election day gets closer. Maryland has been a solid Democrat state for a while so it will take something extraordinary for the GOP candidate Steele to win, especially in this climate. Certainly a contributing factor is Bush's 34% approval rating in the state along with the overwhelming support within the state for a withdrawal from Iraq. On election day, Cardin should win and hold the seat currently held by Sarbannes but this is no time to be over confident.

In the other big Maryland election, for governor, popular Baltimore mayor O'Malley is in a closer fight with incumbent governor Ehrlich, who is the first GOP governor in Maryland since disgraced Nixon VP Spiro Agnew. O'Malley now holds a 6 point lead over aspiring presidential candidate Ehrlich.