The seesaw in Maryland's Senate race is echoed in the race for Governor. As in the Senate campaign, support for Democratic candidates bulged in November during a politically rough time for Republicans nationally, but has now slackened.

Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich—whose fiscal policies are credited by some with pulling the state out of the doldrums—currently leads Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley 47% to 40%.

That's the mirror-image of November, when Ehrlich trailed O'Malley 40% to 46% among likely voters.

The reversal of fortune is even more dramatic in the case of Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan. Neck-and-neck with Ehrlich back in July, by November Duncan led 48% to 39%. Less than two months later, though, Ehrlich leads Duncan 50% to 41% among voters asked to choose between the two.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of respondents view Ehrlich favorably, 44% view O'Malley favorably, and 36% view Duncan favorably. Roughly one-third of the voters have an unfavorable opinion of each candidate.

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The Democrat-dominated state legislature looks less favorably upon the incumbent, as shown by its January 12 override of the governor's veto of controversial legislation compelling Wal-Mart to increase health care spending on its employees in Maryland.

Whether such dramatic highlighting of ideological differences will help or hurt Democratic prospects is an open question.

Ehrlich is the first Republican to ascend to the governor's mansion in Maryland since Spiro Agnew had the job.

Visit our Election Polls page to see a summary of our latest state-by state polling. Rasmussen Reports is polling every Senate and Governors' race at least once a month this year.

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