Several news organizations tonight projected Rep. Ben Cardin as the winner of today’s Senate race.
If the prediction holds true, Cardin will have defeated Lt. Gov. Michael Steele in a closely fought and sometimes combative race that could help propel Democrats to control of both houses of Congress.
Democrats need to pick up at least six seats to gain control of the Senate, and a win by Cardin would help hold the line for a difficult national effort toward that goal. The winner of tonight’s race will replace longtime Democratic Sen. Paul Sarbanes, and mark the first fresh face Maryland has sent to the Senate in more than 20 years.
Supporters at Cardin’s gathering in Baltimore were upbeat and optimistic about the Congressman’s prospects, and Terry Lierman, the Chairman of the Maryland Democratic party, said he placed a high level of confidence in projections.
“I’ve been confident about this race since Ben Cardin got in it,” Lierman said. “I think people are a lot more careful about calling things than they used to be, so that’s a little reassurring.”
But at Steele’s gathering in Bowie, Margie Garey, a supporter from Mt. Airy questioned the accuracy of projections without absentee ballots having been counted.
“I don’t know how anyone can call anything yet,” Garey said. “We still have the absentee ballots out. They’re a big percentage of the vote. They usually favor Republicans.”
