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October 22, 2008

WashPost poll: Slots vote could be blowout

A new Washington Post poll out today indicates that the slots referendum in referendum could be a blowout. A weakening economy appears to have eroded concerns that many voters have harbored against gambling. Voters recognize the social costs of possible addiction and crime, and express doubts that the initiative will generate as much money for the state budget as promised. But the alternative -- deep budget cuts, or higher taxes -- seems to be more distasteful.

The Post poll found that 62 percent of voters surveyed say they will vote for Question 2, which amends the state constitution to allow 15,000 machines at five locations, while 36 percent say they will vote "no."

In what must be disheartening news for opponents, who predictably are being grossly outspent in advertising, the Post reporters say the referendum "drew at least majority support from voters in all regions of the state, in both major political parties, and among all income and education levels. A majority of male and female voters and black and white voters said they would support the plan, which will appear as Question 2."

The survey also found that the approval rating of Gov. Martin O'Malley has an approval rating of 53 percent, higher than in some previous polls but the same as in a similar Post poll a year ago.

Posted by David Nitkin at 8:08 AM | | Comments (3)
        

Comments

There is no way that OweMalley is at 53 percent approval ratings! The boy king makes me long for Agnew!

53% approval rating for O'Malley? LOL I think they must have forgot to put the decimal point in there! 5.3% sounds more like it!!

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About the bloggers
Laura Smitherman has been ensconced in the State House basement, writing about the governor, General Assembly and vagaries of Maryland politics for several years. An erstwhile business reporter, her interest in politics dates to her days in Washington when she covered Congress and national campaigns for another media outlet. She now follows a range of policy debates from slot-machine gambling to universal health care and energy regulation, while keeping an eye on the next election.

Paul West covers Washington for The Baltimore Sun, continuing a tradition that began the month the paper was born, in 1837. He hasn't been in the DC bureau that long--only since Ronald Reagan was president. He's covered Congress, the White House and presidential campaigns as the paper's national political correspondent and Washington bureau chief. He's on the lookout for news of significance to Sun readers at the other end of the B/W Parkway. That includes the activities of the state's congressional delegation and anything else that might shed some light on the inner workings of the nation's capital.

Julie Bykowicz's first days as a political reporter, in January 2009, coincided with Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's indictment and the start of the Maryland General Assembly's 426th legislative session. She focuses on coverage of state agencies, such as social services, juvenile justice and prisons. During the session, she wrote about the death penalty, slots parlors and speed cameras, among other hot topics. Julie began political reporting after more than seven years on The Baltimore Sun's crime desk. She lives in Baltimore and works primarily in Annapolis.

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