A Poll Suggests Duncan Has Work to Do at Home

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan might need to start campaigning harder on his home turf in his bid to become Maryland's next governor.

Despite being county executive for the past decade, a recent poll in the Baltimore Sun indicates that less than half of the Democrats in the county currently back him in his bid to become governor.

The poll, conducted by Potomac Inc. of Bethesda and released by the newspaper on Sunday, found that 37 percent of Montgomery voters say they support Duncan while his opponent for the Democratic nomination, Baltimore Mayor Martin J. O'Malley , was supported by 20 percent. Forty-one percent of Montgomery voters remain undecided.

Duncan has been spending a lot of time campaigning outside Montgomery, in part because the conventional wisdom was that his base was secure. But the poll -- which shows O'Malley beating Duncan by 19 points statewide -- indicates Montgomery voters may not be wedded to the hometown candidate.

"We continue to be excited about our growing support in Montgomery County and the grassroots organization that is already working hard on Martin's behalf," said Jonathan Epstein, O'Malley's campaign manager.

Duncan's campaign largely downplayed the results, saying its own polls show Duncan with a sizeable lead in Montgomery.

"We're very comfortable with where Doug stands in Montgomery County based on our polling and Doug's record of accomplishment as county executive, but we are taking nothing for granted," said Jody Couser , Duncan's campaign spokeswoman.

Duncan advisers have said he needs more than 60 percent of the vote and a high turnout in Montgomery if he is to have a chance against O'Malley. According to the poll, O'Malley holds a 60-point lead over Duncan in Baltimore.

Jones Running for Council

Mike Jones , a former official in the Clinton administration, announced Sunday that he's running for county council. Jones, 43, will try to unseat four-term incumbent Marilyn Praisner (D-Eastern County), who represents District 4.

Jones, who was a confidential aid to Clinton between 1993 and 2001, said he thinks Praisner has been in office too long and is unresponsive to her constituents' needs.

"Quite frankly, I think Miss Praisner has forgotten what it means to be a candidate," said Jones, who is president of the Layhill Village East citizens association.

Jones said he's particularly upset by the county's efforts to locate the Mid-County recreation center near his neighborhood. He said he solicited Praisner's help in fighting the center, which he said will add to traffic, but found her unresponsive.