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November 6, 2008

Deeper shades of blue in Maryland

There's an interesting map in today's New York Times showing significant Democratic trends in most of the country, comparing this year's presidential election to 2004's. Exit polls indicate that the changes were largely driven by economic concerns and a view that the Democratic Party now has better -- or at least different -- solutions for fiscal problems. The challenge for the Obama administration will be to make those gains long-standing.

Maryland followed that national pattern. Our colleague Mike Dresser, who has been scrutinizing Maryland exit polls and other data, brings the following data points to our attention:

Frederick County GOP margin
2004: 20,000+
2008: 2,300

Charles Co. Dem. margin
2004: 900 (approx)
2008: 16,700

Howard Co. Dem margin
2004: 12,500
2008: 27,500

St. Mary's GOP margin
2004: 10,000
2008: 5,500

Those numbers show large gains in four fast-growing areas that have been considered swing jurisdictions in Maryland. Perhaps they're not swinging any longer, and have stopped on the left side of the pendulum's orbit.

Posted by David Nitkin at 9:39 AM | | Comments (0)
        

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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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