Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin is maintaining a substantial lead over Lt. Governor Michael Steele in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes.

Cardin now leads 45% to 35%, a slight decline from our previous poll. Cardin's lead has been shaved only by increased voter uncertainty; Steele's support is still at 35%.

Former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume (D), who has often been neck-and-neck with Steele in our surveys, is now slightly ahead, leading Steele 42% to 38%.

The Senate contest echoes the race for Maryland Governor, where the incumbent Republican Bob Ehrlich trails two Democrats when voters consider prospective match-ups.

Nationwide, Republicans have gained a bit politically, at least in the short term, from the debate over immigration policy. But the President's approval rating is still in the doldrums, especially in Maryland.

Just 36% of the state's likely voters approve of how the President is doing his job; 64% disapprove. Fifty percent (50%) of all voters Strongly Disapprove.

The situation in Iraq is a major contributor, with 49% of Americans now saying that our mission there will eventually be judged a failure...only a few percentage points lower than the high of 52% on that question we recorded last month.

In addition to the drab political outlook for Republicans nationally, Lt. Governor Steele's campaign has also been afflicted by gaffes and contention among his staff, resulting in two high-profile departures that received wide publicity in February.

See our report on the Maryland Governor's race for details on how Marylanders are answering questions about taxes and immigration.

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