Poll shows strong support for Maryland slot proposal

As reported by the Washington Post: "A Washington Post poll shows a majority of Maryland voters support a proposal for slot machine gambling on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"Sixty-two percent of likely voters expressed support for the ballot measure, while 36 percent were against it. Only 2 percent said they were undecided about the proposal, which Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) has cast as a partial solution to the state's fiscal problems and opponents say will lead to an increase in crime and gambling addiction.

"About one-third of voters who think slots might have negative consequences still support the plan, which legislative analysts predict would eventually generate more than $600 million a year for education.

"Passage or failure of the measure is intended to put to rest an issue that has dominated state politics for close to a decade and produced repeated legislative stalemates during the tenure of O'Malley's predecessor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R)..."