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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
Annie Linskey covers state politics and government for The Baltimore Sun. Previously, as a City Hall reporter, she wrote about the corruption trial of Mayor Sheila Dixon and kept a close eye on city spending. Originally from Connecticut, Annie has also lived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where she reported on war crimes tribunals and landmines. She lives in Canton.

John Fritze has covered politics and government at the local, state and federal levels for more than a decade and is now The Baltimore Sun’s Washington correspondent. He previously wrote about Congress for USA TODAY, where he led coverage of the health care overhaul debate and the 2010 election. A native of Albany, N.Y., he currently lives in Montgomery County.

Julie Scharper covers City Hall and Baltimore politics. A native of Baltimore County, she graduated from The Johns Hopkins University in 2001 and spent two years teaching in Honduras before joining The Baltimore Sun. She has followed the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pa., in the year after a schoolhouse massacre, reported on courts and crime in Anne Arundel County, and chronicled the unique personalities and places of Baltimore City and its surrounding counties.
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