[ElTianti]

Go Steele!

We’re going to lose two seats in PA, so getting MD would be quite the get.

[RockinRight]

So Steele would get some 30% of the black vote against Queasy? Works for me!!

Based on this I hope Queasy gets the nomination.

[concerned about politics]

It is unusual for a Republican to be so competitive in such a solidly "Blue" state such as Maryland.

Great! People have been paying attention, aye?

[silverleaf]

Cardin is declared, so is Mfume. Steele has not. Pretty good numbers for an undeclared.

[dangus]

Prediction:

The Democracts will use this as an excuse to fall behind Cardin. Cardin will do well enough among whites and "other races" to win the election, but prominent black community leaders could take offense at Mfume being squeezed out.

Can Steele eat into the black vote? It's up to the black community leaders: do they want a good black governor, or a lousy Democratic one. My guess is most will say they want a Democratic one, but if a significant number like Steele, it could change things.

[Moral Hazard]

I'm surprised Rasmussen even has the energy to deal with his whole polling business given how tough those mountain stages have been. If he wasn't so distracted maybe he'd have caught all the way up to Ulrich on the climb up Pla d'Adet.

[Coop]

Flag

[gathersnomoss]

Mfume? Good luck Maryland! Thank God I live in Virginia!

[cogitator]

Pretty good news for Steele at this point in the non-race (meaning Steele hasn't declared yet). Debates, especially if televised, will go strongly Steele's way. Cardin is touted as an "intellectual" Congressman -- meaning very few people skills and even less charisma. He's a REAL strong liberal, and not under the radar when his record is trotted out, so Steele could pick up moderates.

If Steele runs, I predict an election day squeaker with Steele winning and the liberal papers (WashPost, BaltSun) expressing surprise that the moderate black vote was so high for Steele, and pushed him over the top.

Remember the gay marriage lesson -- the religious black vote, even if otherwise liberal, dislikes gay marriage nearly as much as Midwestern Baptists. Cardin voted against the gay marriage ban amendment -- Steele can take this to the bank.

[jmaroneps37]

Mike will beat Cardin too. Money will pour in from Republicans Pro lifers, Catholics and even some Blacks. He is a great guy and has already proved he can get state wide votes in Maryland. If sarbanes stayed he would not have a chance, but this is an open seat. The comparison between Mike and "frizell empty foo me" will be so great for us that Mike will win by 4 to 6 points.

[RoseofTexas]

Can anyone here please post his picture to see if he is the one I'm thinking about after reading this article. Was Steele the very nice looking black gentleman who gave an outstanding speech at the RNC convention in 04?

[Clintonfatigued]

Great news! The Man Of Steele Could Even Beat Ben Cardin!

[zbigreddogz]

It's gonna be a great race!

That said, all Maryland freepers should register as D's so they can vote for Mfume in the Primary. It would all but assure our victory.

[.cnI redruM]

Nominate Queasy! Give the GOP another seat!

Cardin may be ahead because he's an unknown. Sometimes people will vote for the devil they don't know if they are unaware of a candidate's record, but are stridently against the other guy.