THE WASHINGTON POST
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...6110800917.html
Cardin, O'Malley Win in Md.
By Matthew Mosk, John Wagner and Bill Brubaker
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; 1:00 PM

Maryland Democrats swept to victory in the major statewide races last night, as voters showed a deep unease about the direction of the country and a strong urge to return the state to its long tradition of Democratic leadership.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who refused to admit defeat last night, said he called Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley at mid-morning to concede the election. O'Malley will become the state's 61st governor.

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Veteran Democratic congressman Benjamin L. Cardin, meanwhile, won a hard-fought race for U.S. Senate. His Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, who also refused to concede last night, called Cardin late this morning to congratulate him on his victory. Cardin spokesman Oren Shur described the conversation as "brief and cordial."

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Erstaunlich:

Gov. Ehrlich konnte zuletzt sogar eine warme Empfehlung seitens der Washington Post verbuchen.
Trotz kräftiger finanzieller Unterstützung von der Republikanischen Partei, gelang es Ehrlich aber nicht, eine zweite Amtsperiode zu gewinnen. O'Malley, der als klassischer Underdog startete, gewann mit einer überzeugenden Mehrheit der Stimmen:

Md. Governor
Candidate Votes %
Martin O'Malley (D) 814,257 53
Robert Ehrlich * (R) 711,827 46
Other 16,650 1
Precincts: 97% | Updated: 1:36 PM ET | Source: AP

Auch der demokratische Kandidat Ben Cardin schlägt den Republikaner Michael Steele mit einer klaren Mehrheit der Stimmen:

Md. U.S. Senate
Candidate Votes %
Ben Cardin (D) 834,164 54
Michael Steele (R) 678,172 44
Precincts: 98% | Updated: 1:41 PM ET | Source: AP

Wahlergebnisse in Maryland @ Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/met...general_md.html

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