Maryland slots proposal finds supporters

"Some of the state's most powerful organizations continued this week to line up behind Gov. Martin O'Malley's slots proposal, which could bring up to 15,000 slot machines to Maryland and 4,750 into Anne Arundel County.

"Grassroots opponents, however, are not worried about the big names. Instead, part of their strategy to win in November is to wean away the rank-and-file members of those same groups.

"...Last week, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO formally announced their support of the ballot measure, joining the Maryland State Teachers

"Association and the Maryland Association of Counties in backing Mr. O'Malley's slots program.

"Those groups, which do not always find themselves in agreement, are coalescing around the most obvious draw of slots: the money..."