Washington Post Poll
This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone October 16-20, 2008, among a random sample of 1,005 adults in the state of Maryland, including additional interviews with those living in Baltimore City (total=149) and Prince George's (total=181) and Anne Arundel (total=227) counties. People from these geographies are not over-represented in the statewide results. A total of 885 registered voters were interviewed, and the results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. What is the single biggest issue facing Maryland today?
10/20/08 10/22/07
RV RV
Economy/jobs 63 9
Budget/taxes NET 11 27
Slot machines 3 8
State budget/deficit 4 3
Taxes 4 16
Education 7 12
Health care 3 7
Crime 2 12
Energy issues/gas
prices 2 2
Housing/mortgages/
affordable housing 1 2
Environment 1 4
Ethics/honesty/
corruption in
government 1 1
Drugs * 3
Growth/Over
Development * 2
Guns/Gun control * *
Immigration/illegal
immigration * 3
Iraq/War in Iraq * 1
Terrorism/national
Security * *
Transportation/
traffic/roads and
transit * 4
Abortion 0 *
Other 3 4
None 1 1
DK/No opinion 4 6
2. Do you think things in the state of Maryland are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Right direction Wrong track No opinion
10/20/08 RV 31 63 6
10/22/07 RV 45 48 7
10/26/06 LV 57 39 5
6/25/06 RV 44 50 6
1/7/04 RV 56 36 8
10/24/02 LV 42 51 7
10/22/98 RV 54 36 10
6/17/98 All 53 34 13
6/17/98 LV 56 32 11
6/17/98 RV
12/19/93 All 33 56 11
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Martin O'Malley is handling his job as governor? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin
10/20/08 RV 53 14 39 37 16 21 10
10/22/07 RV 51 13 38 39 17 22 11
Compare to:
Bob Ehrlich:
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
10/26/06 LV 55 30 25 42 19 23 3
6/25/06 RV 56 21 36 41 21 20 3
1/7/04 RV 64 23 41 29 17 12 8
Parris Glendening:
10/24/02 LV 37 9 29 58 22 37 4 10/22/98 LV 54 16 38 40 21 19 6 6/17/98 LV 55 14 41 36 19 18 9
4. I am going to read you a list of names. For each, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don't know enough to say.
10/20/08 - Summary Table
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
a. Bob Ehrlich 48 30 22
b. Martin O'Malley 56 31 13
c. Anthony Brown 22 6 72
d. Peter Franchot 18 11 71
e. Douglas Gansler 16 8 76
Trend where available:
a. Bob Ehrlich
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
10/20/08 RV 48 30 22
10/20/08 LV 50 30 20
10/26/06 LV 56 40 5
6/25/06 RV 55 38 7
1/7/04 RV 68 18 14
b. Martin O'Malley
10/20/08 RV 56 31 13 10/20/08 LV 55 33 12 10/26/06 LV 62 29 8 6/25/06 RV 51 30 19 1/7/04 RV 54 12 34
c. Anthony Brown
10/20/08 RV 22 6 72 10/20/08 LV 23 6 70 10/26/06 LV 25 9 66
d. No trend.
e. No trend.
5. I'd like you to rate the chances that you will vote in the presidential election: Are you absolutely certain to vote, will you probably vote, are the chances 50-50, or less than that?
Don't think Already
Certain Probably Chances Less than will vote voted No
to vote vote 50/50 50/50 (vol.) (vol.) op.
10/20/08 RV 91 5 2 * * 1 *
10/26/06* RV 72 13 7 4 1 1 1
*upcoming election for governor and U.S. Senator this November
6. How closely are you following news about Question Two on the state ballot, the constitutional amendment about slot machines in Maryland - very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not closely at all?
----- Closely ------ ------- Not Closely ------ No
NET Very Smwht NET Not too Not at all op
10/20/08 RV 68 28 40 31 17 14 1
7/7a. As you may know, Question TWO is a constitutional amendment titled "Authorizing Video Lottery Terminals - Slot Machines - to Fund Education." It allows the state to issue licenses for up to five slot machine locations to raise revenue PRIMARILY for public schools, including construction and improvements. No more than 15,000 slot machines would be permitted in the state, and they would be allowed at no more than one location in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worcester and Allegany counties and Baltimore City. No expansion of commercial gaming would be allowed, unless approved by voter referendum. If the election were held today, would you vote FOR or AGAINST slot machines in Maryland? If NOT FOR/AGAINST: Which way are you leaning?
Net Leaned For/Against:
-------- For -------- ------ Against ------ Would
Not Not not No
NET Strngly strngly NET strngly Strngly Neither vote op.
10/20/08 LV 62 46 16 36 9 27 * 1 1
10/20/08 RV 63 45 18 35 9 26 * 1 1
Compare to:
The new plan uses revenue increases to help reduce the deficit. For each of the following, please say if you favor or oppose the proposal. Allowing slot-machine gambling at a limited number of race-tracks and other locations in Maryland. Do you favor/oppose strongly or somewhat?
------- Favor ------- ------- Oppose ------ No
NET Strongly Smwht NET Smwht Strongly opin.
10/22/07 RV 68 45 23 31 9 22 1
10/22/07 68 44 24 30 10 21 2
Would you favor or oppose allowing slot-machine gambling at horse-racing tracks in Maryland?
Favor Oppose No opinion
6/25/06 RV 60 36 4
1/7/04 RV 58 38 4
1/7/04 ALL 59 38 3
Some people are discussing a proposal to allow slot-machine gambling at horse-racing tracks in Maryland. Would you favor or oppose this?
Favor Oppose No opinion
6/18/98 55 41 3
6/18/98 LV 49 47 4
8. (IF AGAINST SLOT MACHINES, Q8/Q8a) What is the main reason you oppose allowing slot machines in Maryland?
10/20/08 10/22/07
RV RV
Gambling becomes an addiction/
brings out worst in people 16 20
Gambling is wrong/immoral 16 17
Hurts the poor/bad for people
with low incomes 14 17
Crime/bad element/degrades area 13 18
Bad way to solve budget deficit 7 8
Not a good source of revenue 7 4
Corruption 5 2
Money won't go to schools/where
they say it will 5
Traffic/traffic congestion * 1
Other 13 12
No opinion 3 2
9. As you may know, the state projects a large budget deficit next year. Overall do you think the budget situation is a big problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem or not a problem for the people of Maryland today?
----- Problem ----- ----- No Problem ----- No
NET Big Somewhat NET Not much At all opinion
10/20/08 RV 97 76 21 2 1 1 1
10/22/07* RV 94 61 33 5 3 2 1
*10/22/07: "the state projects a one point seven billion dollar budget deficit" 10. If the slots plan passes, do think it would help the state's budget situation a great deal, somewhat, not much or not at all?
------- Help ------- --------- Not Help --------
Great No
NET deal Smwht NET Not much Not at all op.
10/20/08 RV 69 22 47 29 18 11 2
11. The governor and slot machine supporters have warned the state budget would be in deeper trouble if the slot machines are not approved by the voters. Others say allowing slots would wind up costing more money due to increasing traffic, crime and other social problems, such as gambling addiction. If these machines are NOT approved, how concerned, if at all, are you that [ITEM] - very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned?
10/20/08 - Summary Table
---- Concerned --- ---- Not Concerned --- No NET Very Smwht NET Not too At all opinion a. the state will cut back plans to provide additional new money to the public schools 78 47 31 21 14 7 1 b. the state will make cuts in other state programs, such as higher education and health care for lower-income residents 81 51 30 18 13 5 1 c. the state will have to raise taxes significantly 83 56 27 16 10 6 1 d. the state will cut funding to local governments 71 33 38 28 19 9 1
Trend where available:
a. the state will cut back plans to provide additional new money to the public schools
--- Concerned --- --- Not Concerned --- No
NET Very Smwht NET Not too At all opinion
10/20/08 RV 78 47 31 21 14 7 1
10/22/07* RV 84 64 20 15 10 6 1
*10/22/07: "the state will cancel plans to provide additional new money to the public schools"
b. the state will make cuts in other state programs, such as higher education and health care for lower-income residents
10/20/08 RV 81 51 30 18 13 5 1 10/22/07 RV 86 64 22 14 9 5 *
c. The state will have to raise taxes significantly
10/20/08 RV 83 56 27 16 10 6 1 10/22/07 RV 89 64 25 10 7 3 1
d. the state will cut funding to local governments
10/20/08 RV 71 33 38 28 19 9 1 10/22/07* RV 76 40 36 23 17 6 1
*10/22/07: "the state will cut funding to county governments"
12. (IF FOR SLOT MACHINES, Q9/Q9a) Would you favor or oppose allowing slot machines in the county where you live?
Favor Oppose No opinion
10/20/08 RV 82 16 2
10/22/07 RV 87 12 1
13. In the past two years, have you ever gone to Delaware, Pennsylvania or West Virginia to play the slot machines, or not?
Yes No No opinion
10/20/08 RV 27 73 *
10/22/07 RV 26 74 0
1/07/04* RV 25 75 0
*Question did not include Pennsylvania
14. If there were slot machines here in Maryland, do you think you would play: often, sometimes, hardly ever or never?
-------- Play -------- ------- Won't Play ------ No
NET Often Sometimes NET Hardly ever Never opinion
10/20/08 RV 29 5 25 71 27 44 *
10/27/07 RV 33 6 27 67 24 43 *
1/07/04 RV 31 7 24 69 27 42 0
15. Overall, would you say slot machines have a (positive) or (negative) impact on the communities where they are located?
----- Positive ------ ----- Negative ------ No No
NET Very Somewhat NET Somewhat Very impact opinion
10/20/08 RV 39 13 26 47 22 25 6 8
16. How do you feel about [ITEM] - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all?
10/20/08 - Summary Table
----- Worried ---- ----- Not worried ---- No
NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opin.
a. The direction of the
nation's economy over
the next few years 90 56 34 9 6 3 1
b. Your own family's
financial situation 65 24 41 34 23 12 *
Compare to national:
a. The direction of the nation's economy over the next few years
----- Worried ---- ----- Not worried ---- No
NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opinion
10/19/08 LV 85 44 42 14 9 5 1
10/11/08 RV 88 49 40 11 8 3 1
b. Your own family's financial situation
10/19/08 LV 66 24 43 33 21 12 * 10/11/08 RV 68 25 43 32 22 11 *
17/17a. If the candidates for Maryland governor in 2010 are: (Martin O'Malley, the Democrat) and (Bob Ehrlich, the Republican); if the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Net Leaned Vote:
Other Neither Would No
O'Malley Ehrlich (vol.) (vol.) not vote op.
10/20/08 RV 57 36 * 1 1 5
2006 Election 53 46 1 N/A N/A N/A
