O'Malley Ahead of Ehrlich in Poll

(from the Baltimore Sun, By David Nitkin)

In the aftermath of a confrontational General Assembly session, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. gets poor marks from Maryland voters on working with legislators and protecting the environment, and has slipped behind Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley in a potential 2006 contest for governor, according to The Sun Poll released today.
The survey results show a downward shift in the governor's job approval rating since January, the last time Potomac Inc. questioned likely voters on state politics and issues. The three-month period was dominated by news of an aide to the governor spreading Internet rumors about O'Malley, and an Assembly decision to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot next year giving the legislature veto power over the sale of certain state land. Still, more than half of potential voters say they like the job the governor is doing and tend to hold a favorable personal view of him.

Voters overwhelmingly say Ehrlich does a good job communicating his priorities to them, although in general they disapprove of the way he has handled key issues facing the state.

Democrat O'Malley leads Republican Ehrlich 45 percent to 39 percent in a potential gubernatorial general election next year, with about one in six likely voters undecided. In January, the governor and mayor were deadlocked, each getting the support of 40 percent of respondents, with 20 percent undecided.

Ehrlich would defeat the other top Democratic contender for governor, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, 44 percent to 38 percent, in a general election pairing, the survey showed. Eighteen percent were undecided. from the Baltimore Sun

And why would a Mayor who has done such a pitiful job with the city be leading Mr Ehrlich? In my opinion probably because of the constant negative articles from the Baltimore Sun. How do you think O'malley's polls would be if instead of the daily attacks on Ehrlich we had articles like this.

Baltimore's homicide rate climbs
Thursday, January 1, 2004
BALTIMORE, Maryland (AP) -- The city's homicide rate increased last year for the first time since 1998 as authorities said killings became more targeted, often in connection with the drug trade.

As of Wednesday, the city had reported 271 killings in 2003, compared with 253 in 2002. It's a 7 percent increase and the highest homicide total during the four-year tenure of Mayor Martin O'Malley, who campaigned on a pledge to reduce annual homicide totals to 175.

Police Commissioner Kevin P. Clark said part of the increase was due to gunmen hitting their victims with more bullets. "They are not looking to shoot a guy in the leg to send a message," Clark said. "They are out to kill these guys." from CNN.com

The homicide rate has not gone down. And the school system's improvements are marginal at best and still gives inner-city kids a sub-standard education (though this is not the fault of many dedicated teachers). Please somebody name me some accomplishments O'Malley has made in Baltimore City and why we would want him as Governor? Thank you Baltimore Sun for caring more about politics then the best interests of Baltimore and Maryland.

(Note: 2004 totals exceeded 2003. from WBAL.com
BALTIMORE -- While Baltimore's homicide rate in 2004 exceeds last year's total, some hope remains -- thanks, in part, to the second-best December homicide rate in nearly 40 years. Now, police officials reflect on hopeful change, WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Deborah Weiner reported. With December coming to a close this week, police have recorded 10 homicides this month, compared with 30 in 2003, 17 in 2002 and 27 in 2001. As of Dec. 28, 274 people have been killed this year on Baltimore's streets -- most of them young, most of them black, most of them men, Weiner said. )

--Robert Farrow