Ad blitz cited as Rales leads Steele in new poll

[rogue emissary]

By Jon Ward
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 29, 2006


Democrat Josh Rales, who began a multimillion-dollar TV advertising blitz last month, is leading Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele in the race for Maryland's open U.S. Senate seat, according to a poll released yesterday.
Mr. Rales, a Bethesda businessman and political newcomer, was favored by 45.7 percent of voters in a head-to-head matchup with Mr. Steele, the top Republican candidate, who had 42.2 percent, the poll conducted by Zogby International and distributed through the Wall Street Journal found.
"We're very excited," said Alyson Chadwick, a spokeswoman for Mr. Rales. "That's a very reputable source, the Wall Street Journal."
Two other Democrats had bigger leads on Mr. Steele, in separate head-to-head matchups.
Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, a 10-term congressman from Baltimore, had 50.3 percent to Mr. Steele's 41.4 percent. Kweisi Mfume, past president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, had 47.4 percent to Mr. Steele's 42.7 percent, the poll shows.
No data was provided in the poll about head-to-head matchups among the three Democrats. The Democratic primary is Sept. 12.
The poll was conducted from Aug. 15 to Aug. 21 and has a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points. Zogby conducts polls using a database of likely voters who sign up to participate in its polls. . . .
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20060828-110355-2812r.htm