Tight race seen if Sarbanes retires from U.S. Senate

If Paul S. Sarbanes decides to retire from the U.S. Senate, there are several potential candidates who have a legitimate shot at his seat in 2006, according to a new poll. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley would be the top candidate among Democrats if he runs, but former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume and longtime Congressman Benjamin L. Cardin would give the mayor a run for his money, according to the Maryland Poll from Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies. "All three of them are extremely competitive because of the bases of support they already have," said Patrick E. Gonzales, president of the Annapolis-based polling firm. He surveyed 402 voters who are likely to vote in the Democratic primary. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. If Mr. Sarbanes, 71, decides to retire, the race between Mr. O'Malley, Mr. Mfume and Mr. Cardin would be a tight one. Statewide, Mr. O'Malley leads with 26 percent support, followed by Mr. Mfume with 24 percent and Mr. Cardin with 20 percent. Thirty percent of those polled were undecided. "If it were those three, it would be a fascinating election," Mr. Gonzales said.

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