Survey

Gonzales Research &

Marketing Strategies

“Maryland’s leader in public opinion polling”

Maryland Poll

Part 1

Most Important Issue

Governor’s Contest

U.S. Senate

September 2009

Contact: Laslo Boyd 443-812-4883

www.gonzalesresearch.com

Methodology

Patrick E. Gonzales graduated from the University of Baltimore in 1981 with a degree in political science. He began his career as an analyst with Mason-Dixon Opinion Research and is the former president of Mason-Dixon Campaign Polling and Gonzales/Arscott Research & Communications, Inc.

Mr. Gonzales has polled and analyzed hundreds of elections in Maryland since the mid 1980’s. Additionally, he and his associates have conducted numerous market research projects and crafted message development programs for businesses and organizations throughout the state.

Laslo V. Boyd is a partner of Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies. Dr. Boyd received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and has over 30 years of experience in higher education, government, and public policy.

Hilary Duff Gonzales is Director of Sales and Marketing for Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies. Mrs. Gonzales has over 20 years experience promoting the state of Maryland, particularly in the tour and travel industry.

This survey was conducted by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies from September 8^th through September 17^th, 2009. A total of 833 registered voters in Maryland were interviewed by telephone. A cross-section of interviews was conducted in each jurisdiction within the state to reflect general election voting patterns.

The margin of error (MOE), according to customary statistical standards, is no more than plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. There is a 95 percent probability that the “true” figures would fall within this range if the entire survey universe were sampled. The margin for error is higher for any demographic subgroup, such as gender.

Maryland Statewide Poll Sample Demographics

Gender	Race	Region
Male 409 (49%)	White 617 (74%)	Eastern Shore/S Md 113 (13%)
Female 424 (51%)	Black 198 (24%)	Baltimore City 73 (9%)
	Other/Ref 18	Baltimore Suburbs 308 (37%)
		Washington Subs 241 (29%)
		Western Maryland 98 (12%)
Party Registration
Democrat 458 (55%)
Republican 265 (32%)
Independent 110 (13%)

Regional Groupings are as follows:

Eastern Shore/ Southern Md	Baltimore City	Baltimore Suburbs	Washington Suburbs	Western Maryland
Calvert Co.	Baltimore City	Anne Arundel Co.	Montgomery Co.	Allegany Co.
Caroline Co.		Baltimore Co.	Prince George’s Co.	Carroll Co.
Cecil Co.		Harford Co.		Frederick Co.
Charles Co.		Howard Co.		Garrett Co.
Dorchester Co.				Washington Co.
Kent Co.
Queen Anne’s Co.
Somerset Co.
St. Mary’s Co.
Talbot Co.
Wicomico Co.
Worcester Co.

Summary

Most Important Issue facing State

The fact that 55% of Maryland voters cite either the economy or taxes as most important issue is a warning signal for incumbent officeholders

Statewide, 43% of voters say that the economy is the most important issue facing Maryland, followed by health care (13%), taxes (12%), the budget deficit (7%), and education (7%).

But it’s still a point higher than it was one year ago, when 42% cited it as most important issue

Concern about the economy among Marylanders is down from the beginning of the year

Governor Martin O’Malley

Among Marylanders, 47% have a favorable opinion of Martin O’Malley, 28% have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 23% are neutral.

O’Malley’s job approval remains essentially where it was at the beginning of the year. Statewide, 48% of voters approve of the job O’Malley is doing as governor, while 37% disapprove of the job he is doing, with 15% offering no opinion.

By party, 68% of Democrats approve of the job O’Malley is doing as governor and 20% say they disapprove; but among Republicans, only 16% approve of the job O’Malley is doing, while 66% disapprove; among independents, 41% approve and 39% disapprove.

O’Malley Job Approval	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
September 2009	48%	37%	15%
January 2009	49%	37%	14%
September 2008	45%	35%	20%
March 2008	37%	48%	15%
January 2008	39%	49%	12%
October 2007	46%	31%	23%
March 2007	52%	21%	27%

Former governor Bob Ehrlich, who was defeated by O’Malley in 2006, is viewed favorably by 42% of Maryland voters, while 26% have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 26% say they have a neutral opinion of Ehrlich.

Former lieutenant governor Michael Steele is viewed favorably by 40%; unfavorably by 34%; and 15% are neutral.

In an election match-up with Ehrlich, O’Malley leads 49% to 38%, with 13% undecided. Ehrlich appears to be about where he was 3 years ago when he left office: well-enough liked, but unable to get much beyond his base.

In an election match-up with Steele, O’Malley leads 52% to 37%.

United States Senate

Statewide, 64% of voters have a favorable opinion of Barbara Mikulski, 23% have an unfavorable opinion of her, and 12% are neutral.

Sixty-seven percent approve of the job Mikulski is doing as senator, while 22% disapprove of the job she’s doing.

By party, an astounding 82% of Democrats approve of the job Mikulski is doing, while only 5% disapprove; among Republicans, 38% approve of the job Mikulski is doing and 52% disapprove; among independents, 73% approve and 21% disapprove.

Mikulski Job Approval	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
September 2009	67%	22%	11%
October 2004	59%	25%	16%
June 2004	65%	21%	14%
March 2004	62%	23%	15%

Among Maryland voters, 55% say they will re-elect Barbara Mikulski next year, only 19% say they’ll definitely vote to replace, while 26% say they would like to consider another candidate.

Barbara Mikulski has averaged 67% in her 4 elections…she appears headed toward another easy re-election

Budget Issues

Statewide, 75% of voters think the budget issues facing Maryland are a “very big problem” and 22% think they are “somewhat of a problem,” while only 1% think they’re “not much of a problem.”

We queried Marylanders on several steps that could be taken to deal with the budget deficit. The results:

Reduce state aid for public education

Favor 16%

Oppose 80%

Reduce state services for the poor

Budget Steps

A majority of voters oppose each of these steps we tested as a way for Maryland to deal with the budget deficit

Favor 22%

Oppose 70%

Increase the state income tax

Favor 26%

Oppose 67%

Reduce state aid for higher education

Favor 27%

Oppose 67%

Increase the state sales tax

Favor 31%

Oppose 64%

Reduce state funding for environmental programs

Favor 38%

Oppose 56%

Reduce state funding for transportation projects

Favor 40%

Oppose 51%

QUESTION: What do you think is the most important issue facing the state of Maryland today?

Economy 43%

Health care 13%

Taxes 12%

Budget deficit 7%

Education 7%

Lack of honesty in government 6%

Environment 4%

Crime 3%

Transportation/Roads 3%

Illegal immigration 1%

No answer 1%

Name Recognition

I am going to read you the names of several individuals. After I mention each name, I would like you to tell me if you recognize that person. If you do, I would then like you to tell me whether you have a favorable, unfavorable, or neutral opinion of that individual.

The first (next) name is _________________. Do you recognize that name?

(IF YES) Do you have a favorable, unfavorable, or neutral opinion of that person?

Don’t

Favorable Unfavorable Neutral Recognize

Barbara Mikulski 64% 23% 12% 1%

Martin O’Malley 47% 28% 23% 2%

Bob Ehrlich 42% 26% 26% 6%

Michael Steele 40% 34% 15% 11%

Doug Duncan 21% 7% 33% 39%

Janet Owens 12% 2% 27% 59%

Wayne Curry 12% 1% 27% 60%

Name ID results for 3 possible challengers to O’Malley in a Democratic Primary

QUESTION: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Martin O’Malley is doing as governor?

Statewide Results

Response

Statewide

Approve

48%

Disapprove

37%

No answer

15%

Party - Martin O’Malley job performance - approve or disapprove?

Party

Approve

Disapprove

Answer

Democrat

68%

20%

12%

Republican

16%

66%

18%

Independent

41%

39%

20%

QUESTION: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barbara Mikulski is doing as a United States Senator?

Statewide Results

Response

Statewide

Approve

67%

Disapprove

22%

No answer

11%

Party – Barbara Mikulski job performance - approve or disapprove?

Party

Approve

Disapprove

Answer

Democrat

82%

13%

Republican

38%

52%

10%

Independent

73%

21%

QUESTION: If the November 2010 general election for governor were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were Martin O’Malley, the Democrat and Bob Ehrlich, the Republican?

Statewide Results

Response

Statewide

O’Malley

49%

Ehrlich

38%

Undecided

13%

QUESTION: If the November 2010 general election for governor were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were Martin O’Malley, the Democrat and Michael Steele, the Republican?

Statewide Results

Response

Statewide

O’Malley

52%

Steele

37%

Undecided

11%

QUESTION: If the November 2010 general election for United States Senate were held today, would you vote to re-elect Barbara Mikulski, would you want to consider another candidate, or would you vote to replace Barbara Mikulski?

Statewide Results

Response

Statewide

Re-elect

55%

Replace

19%

Consider another

26%

QUESTION: How big a problem do you think the budget issues facing the State of Maryland are: a very big problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem, or not a problem at all?

Statewide Results

Response

Statewide

Very big problem

75%

Somewhat of a problem

22%

Not that much of a problem

Not a problem at all

No answer