Key Wins Bolster O'Malley In Run-Up to 2010 Elections

Few analysts expect fellow Democrats to hold O'Malley's support for Clinton against him in next year's election, in part because of the fundraising and organizational help he and the Maryland Democratic Party later provided Obama. A large portion of those efforts were directed to neighboring states with more competitive contests, including Virginia.

O'Malley was similarly able to pivot in 2004 from a presidential primary endorsement of former Vermont governor Howard Dean to support Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts in the general election.

Kevin Igoe, a Republican consultant in Maryland, said that in some respects O'Malley is entering the year in a better place politically than where he started 2008. Some voters appear to have forgotten the number of taxes raised by O'Malley and Democrats during a special session of the state budget in November 2007, Igoe said.

Polls from early last year showed O'Malley's job approval rating dropping below 40 percent. By October, his popularity had rebounded, according to a Washington Post poll in which 53 percent said they approved of the way the governor was handling his job, while 37 percent disapproved.

Igoe and other analysts said it is unknown what effect an upcoming round of deep budget cuts could have on O'Malley's popularity. Voters do not appear to be blaming the governor for the toll that the national recession is taking on Maryland.

That could change depending on how deeply state government services are cut in coming months. Due largely to lagging tax collections, Maryland is facing a projected shortfall of $1.9 billion in the fiscal year that starts in July.

Morrill said that voters appear to have gained an appreciation of actions taken by O'Malley in the special session, without which the state's fiscal outlook would be even worse.

Igoe said Republicans' fortunes in 2010 will also depend on their ability to field a candidate who can "hopefully create a wave of energy."

Ehrlich is widely regarded as the most credible challenger but has not sent signals in recent months that he is gearing up to run again. Others in the party appear to be waiting for Ehrlich to make up his mind.