A year before the 2006 general election, a new Gonzales Research poll finds Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) leading Gov. Robert Ehrlich, 48% to 42%, in the Maryland gubernatorial race.
In the U.S. Senate race, Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD) has a nine-point lead over Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R), 47% to 38%. However, Steele "held his own in a matchup with the only black Democrat in the race, former U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume." Steele beats Mfume, 42% to 40%.