New Gonzales Poll Reveals Close Maryland Voter Opinion On Gambling
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--You've seen the TV campaign ads. Now a new poll shows where voters stand on a referendum to expand the state's gambling program.
Political reporter Pat Warren explains who's voting yes and who plans to vote no.
You can ask yourself the question right now and if the poll is correct, you'll have a 50/50 chance of winning on Election Day.
If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no on Question 7?
"At this point I would not," said one.
"I think I'd vote for it," said another.
"It could go either way," said a third.
"I would feel kind of good that it would go toward education and we're in public schools," said another.
Slightly more than half of Democrats, 35 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of Independents said yes.
"I just don't feel we need another gambling facility," said one.
Nearly 40 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of Republicans said no. Everyone else is undecided.
Question 7 campaign spending has tipped the $20 million mark, with these ads running against it funded largely by Penn National Gaming, which operates Hollywood Casino in Perryville.
"A vote for Question 7 is a vote for Maryland jobs," one pro-ad said.
The Vote Yes ad campaign is endorsed by the mayor of Baltimore and area county executives who see money that goes to out-of-state casinos staying in Maryland.
"You just have to do the research and figure out the truth for yourself, I guess," said one.
The poll also found 64 percent of African-American voters would vote against it and of all voters, women are slightly more likely to vote for it than men.
The question was placed on the ballot by the General Assembly after a special session in August.
