Posted on 07/10/2002 3:20:15 PM PDT by StopDemocratsDotCom
ANNAPOLIS -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Robert Ehrlich is gaining ground on Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, according to a new poll released today.
The poll by Gonzales/Arscott Research & Communications Inc. of Annapolis found that 48 percent of the 829 registered voters polled said they would vote for Townsend and her running mate, Charles Larson, if the election were held now.
The telephone poll conducted from July 2 to Sunday found that 41 percent said they’d vote for Ehrlich and his pick for lieutenant governor, Michael Steele.
It was the first time in the Gonzales/Arscott polls that Townsend's support fell below 50 percent and Ehrlich's rose above 40 percent. A poll by the same group in January showed Ehrlich with a 35 percent rating.
The margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
The poll showed Ehrlich gaining a dramatic turnaround among Independent voters, leading Townsend 49 percent to 30 percent. In January, he trailed 40 percent to 38 percent.
Townsend still holds commanding leads in Baltimore, with 77 points, over Ehrlich's 16 points. She also leads in the Washington suburbs, while Ehrlich leads in the Baltimore suburbs, Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore.
Black voters still give Townsend a huge advantage, although she slipped two points from 79 to 77 percent. Ehrlich, who recently named Steele, who is black, as his running mate, increased his share from 8 to 13 percent.
Ehrlich spokesman Paul Schurick said their campaign has been aggressively courting the black vote, and the figures reflect that.
"It is encouraging because, historically, Republican candidates do even worse," he said. "Republican candidates in Maryland rarely if ever get out of single digits among African-American voters."
The poll also finds both candidates improving their overall name recognition around the state, with a resounding 97 percent saying they know Townsend's name and 75 percent recognizing Ehrlich. That's up from 95 percent and 69 percent, respectively.
"She's universally known in Maryland but for 8 years (as lieutenant governor), while enjoying universal name recognition, she has failed to excite the voters," Schurick said.
Kate Phillips, a Townsend spokeswoman, noted that the lieutenant governor is still in the lead.
"As we criss-cross the state talking to Maryland voters, we are getting a very positive reaction," she said. "People are excited and supportive and we think that on Nov. 5, the most important poll will show us in the lead."
The poll also raised a few campaign issues, finding that 22 percent said they think education is the most important issue facing the next governor. That was followed by the state's budget shortfall and crime and drugs at 13 percent each.
When asked how the state should resolve a projected $1 billion budget deficit, 29 percent said slots should be legalized at racetracks and 16 percent favored increasing the income tax for households earning more than $100,000.
Support for the death penalty in Maryland remained fairly constant from figures two years ago at 60 percent, with 34 percent against it. However, a majority also supports the death penalty moratorium imposed by Gov. Parris Glendening in May, with 51 percent in favor, 39 opposed, and 10 percent giving no answer.
...KENNEDY -&- HILLARY use Air Force One to plot Payback against LINDA TRIPP =
...Maryland Prosecutors file charges against TRIPP after BILL CLINTON's Impeachment.
...The Enemy is now Within...
...and always been.
NEVER FORGET
Kennedy-Townsend suddenly lost the independent voters......uh oh!
It'll be close. Chuck Larson had to deal with all of these issues as Super at the Naval Academy and his record was, um, spotty.
Well ... my truck looks like a rolling Ehrlich/Steele machine.
We've not had a Republican Gov. here since the 60s ....
He picks up swing voters ... and, if you look at this poll ... they are in a satistical heat ...
Looks like I am about to be nearly drowned by the she didn't get out of the cocka-doody car clan ... and it's money ... shortly.
I apologize in advance for the callus reference ... thank you for the *ping*!
They know her name is Kathlen KENNEDY Townsend. I'll bet 97% cannot identify Kathleen Townsend.
Other than standing in King Glendening's shadow, what exactly are Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's qualifications?
Two, her middle name and she's a redistribution of income Democrat. Of course, when it came to her financial statement, the several trust funds she has from father, mother and grandfather did not have to list any amounts on them.
Hope I'm wrong, but methinks this is just the usual media hype to make the race look more exciting than it really is.
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