Maryland United States Senate election, 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 United States Senate election in Maryland was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes
, Maryland's longest serving United States Senator, decided to retire instead of seeking a sixth term. Democratic nominee Ben Cardin
won the open seat.
, a former congressman and NAACP President, was the first to announce for the position, in March 2005. Ben Cardin
, then a congressman since 1987, was the only other major candidate until September 2005, when Dennis F. Rasmussen
, a former Baltimore County Executive
, American University
professor Allan Lichtman
, and wealthy Potomac businessman Josh Rales entered the contest. Thirteen other candidates subsequently also entered the primary. As of August 2006, Cardin had raised more than $4.8 million and collected endorsements from a number of Democratic politicians, the AFL-CIO
, and The Washington Post
; Mfume had raised over $1.2 million and collected endorsements from the Maryland State Teachers Association
, Progressive Maryland
, former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening
, the National Organization for Women
, and Maryland Congressmen Elijah Cummings
and Al Wynn.
On August 31, 2006, Maryland Public Television and the League of Women Voters sponsored a debate between the two leading Democratic Primary Candidates,. Lichtman, Rales, and Rasmussen petitioned MPT and LWV for inclusion in the debate, but received no response. On the day of the debate, Lichtman, his wife, and a campaign aide were arrested for trespassing while protesting during the taping of the debate.
was expected to win the Republican Primary, even to the point where Maryland Public Television
personality Jeff Salkin declared at a Maryland League of Women Voters
debate that Steele is "unopposed.". Among a field of nine other candidates, the only Republican receiving sufficient media coverage was Daniel Vovak
.
was first elected.
Michael Steele won the Republican
nomination after facing little competition in the contest for the Republican ticket. With mostly unknown secondary candidates, Steele received 87% of the Republican Primary
vote.
Third District Congressional Representative Ben Cardin
won the Democratic Party
nomination after facing tough competition in the contest for the Democratic ticket from former congressman and NAACP President Kweisi Mfume
, businessman Josh Rales, former Baltimore County Executive Dennis F. Rasmussen
, and several lesser known candidates. Cardin received 44% of the Democratic Primary vote to 40% for Mfume, his next closest competitor. All other candidates received percentages only in the single digits.
Kevin Zeese
, the nominee for the Green
, Populist
and Libertarian
Parties, was also on the ballot.
Though Steele lost the general election by 10%, a much wider margin than predicted, his was the best showing for a Republican in a Senate race in Maryland
since Charles Mathias, Jr.
was reelected in 1980 with 66% of the vote.
and Doni Glover from BMORENEWS.
The first televised debate of the campaign was broadcast on News Channel 8 on the program "News Talk". All three candidates participated in the debate, and were moderated by Bruce DePuyt, the host of the program. There was no audience. This debate was widely reported because of the constant bickering between the three candidates, who often interrupted and talked over one another.
Another debate took place between Steele and Cardin on Sunday, October 29, 2006 as a part of the Meet The Press
Senatorial debate series. Moderated by Tim Russert
, the debate focused primarily on the Iraq War and stem-cell research, amongst other issues.
The three candidates all participated in the final debate of the campaign on Friday, November 3, 2006. The event was sponsored by the Collective Banking Group and held at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden.
Paul Sarbanes
Paul Spyros Sarbanes , a Democrat, is a former United States Senator who represented the state of Maryland. Sarbanes was the longest-serving senator in Maryland history, having served from 1977 until 2007. He did not seek re-election in 2006, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Ben Cardin...
, Maryland's longest serving United States Senator, decided to retire instead of seeking a sixth term. Democratic nominee Ben Cardin
Ben Cardin
Benjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin is the junior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1987 to 2007.Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in...
won the open seat.
Candidates
- Benjamin L. CardinBen CardinBenjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin is the junior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1987 to 2007.Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in...
, United States Representative from the 3rd districtMaryland's 3rd congressional districtMaryland's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district from the state of Maryland. It comprises portions of Baltimore, Howard and Anne Arundel counties, as well as a significant part of the independent city of Baltimore...
. (Cardin's Campaign Website) - David Dickerson, engineer. (Dickerson's Campaign website)
- George T. English, economist. (English's Campaign Website)
- James H. Hutchison, psychiatrist. (Hutchison’s Campaign Website)
- Anthony Jaworski
- A. Robert Kaufman, social activist and a perennial candidatePerennial candidateA perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
. - Allan LichtmanAllan LichtmanAllan Jay Lichtman is an American political historian who teaches at American University in Washington, D.C. He ran in the 2006 Maryland senate race for the seat vacated by Paul Sarbanes.-Early life, education, and family:...
, professor at American UniversityAmerican UniversityAmerican University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
and voting rights expert. - Thomas McCaskill, a physicist. (McCaskill’s Campaign Website)
- Kweisi MfumeKweisi MfumeKweisi Mfume is the former President/CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People , as well as a five-term Democratic Congressman from Maryland's 7th congressional district, serving in the 100th through 104th Congress...
, former United States Representative from the 7th districtMaryland's 7th congressional districtMaryland's 7th congressional district elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives every two years. The seat is currently represented by Elijah Cummings . It encompasses the majority African American sections of Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland, in addition to the...
as well as the former president of the NAACP. (Mfume's Campaign Website) - Josh Rales, successful entrepreneur from Montgomery County. (Rales’ Campaign Website)
- Dennis F. RasmussenDennis F. RasmussenDennis F. Rasmussen is a Maryland politician, who ran as a Democrat in the 2006 Maryland U.S. Senate election. He lost the nomination to Ben Cardin, after receiving 2% of the votes...
, former Baltimore County ExecutiveBaltimore County ExecutiveThe Baltimore County Executive is the highest elected official representing the government of Baltimore County, Maryland. The post was established with the implementation of the Home Rule Charter for Baltimore County on December 6, 1956...
. (Rasmussen’s Campaign Website) - Bob Robinson
- Theresa C. Scaldaferri
- Mike Schaefer, lawyer. (Schaefer’s Campaign Website)
- Charles Ulysses Smith, community activist.
- Blaine Taylor, writer.
- Joseph Werner, attorney.
- Lih Young, perennial candidate.
- Lise Van SusterenLise Van SusterenLise Van Susteren is an American forensic psychiatrist in private practice in Washington, DC and environmental activist. In 2006 she sought the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate in Maryland, but withdrew from the race in April 2006....
- She is a psychiatrist and sister of Greta Van SusterenGreta Van SusterenGreta Van Susteren is an American commentator and television personality on the Fox News Channel, where she hosts On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren...
; she withdrew from the contest on April 21, 2006, citing insufficient fundraising. She did not endorse any candidate.
Campaign
Kweisi MfumeKweisi Mfume
Kweisi Mfume is the former President/CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People , as well as a five-term Democratic Congressman from Maryland's 7th congressional district, serving in the 100th through 104th Congress...
, a former congressman and NAACP President, was the first to announce for the position, in March 2005. Ben Cardin
Ben Cardin
Benjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin is the junior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1987 to 2007.Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in...
, then a congressman since 1987, was the only other major candidate until September 2005, when Dennis F. Rasmussen
Dennis F. Rasmussen
Dennis F. Rasmussen is a Maryland politician, who ran as a Democrat in the 2006 Maryland U.S. Senate election. He lost the nomination to Ben Cardin, after receiving 2% of the votes...
, a former Baltimore County Executive
Baltimore County Executive
The Baltimore County Executive is the highest elected official representing the government of Baltimore County, Maryland. The post was established with the implementation of the Home Rule Charter for Baltimore County on December 6, 1956...
, American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
professor Allan Lichtman
Allan Lichtman
Allan Jay Lichtman is an American political historian who teaches at American University in Washington, D.C. He ran in the 2006 Maryland senate race for the seat vacated by Paul Sarbanes.-Early life, education, and family:...
, and wealthy Potomac businessman Josh Rales entered the contest. Thirteen other candidates subsequently also entered the primary. As of August 2006, Cardin had raised more than $4.8 million and collected endorsements from a number of Democratic politicians, the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, and The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
; Mfume had raised over $1.2 million and collected endorsements from the Maryland State Teachers Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
, Progressive Maryland
Progressive Maryland
Founded in 2000, Progressive Maryland is one of the Maryland's largest grassroots advocacy organization, with more than 15,000 individual members and supporters as well as over 50 affiliated religious, community, and labor organizations...
, former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening
Parris Glendening
Parris Nelson Glendening , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 59th Governor of Maryland from January 18, 1995 to January 15, 2003...
, the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
, and Maryland Congressmen Elijah Cummings
Elijah Cummings
Elijah Eugene Cummings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1996. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes just over half of Baltimore City, as well as most of Howard County...
and Al Wynn.
On August 31, 2006, Maryland Public Television and the League of Women Voters sponsored a debate between the two leading Democratic Primary Candidates,. Lichtman, Rales, and Rasmussen petitioned MPT and LWV for inclusion in the debate, but received no response. On the day of the debate, Lichtman, his wife, and a campaign aide were arrested for trespassing while protesting during the taping of the debate.
Polling
| Source | Date | Cardin | Kaufman | Lichtman | Mfume | Rales | Rasmussen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA | September 11, 2006 | 47% | — | — | 38% | 7% | — |
| SurveyUSA | August 31, 2006 | 38% | — | — | 42% | 7% | — |
| Gonzales Research | August 30, 2006 | 43% | — | — | 30% | 6% | — |
| Public Opinion Strategies | August 1-2, 2006 | 31% | — | — | 25% | 4% | 6% |
| Baltimore Sun | July 17, 2006 | 32% | 1% | 1% | 28% | 1% | 1% |
| Washington Post | June 25, 2006 | 26% | 2% | 4% | 33% | 0% | 4% |
Results
Candidates
- Michael S. SteeleMichael S. SteeleMichael Stephen Steele is an American politician who served as the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee from January 2009 until January 2011. From 2003 to 2007, he was the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, the first African American elected to statewide...
: Current Lieutenant Governor of MarylandLieutenant Governor of MarylandThe Lieutenant Governor of Maryland is the second highest ranking official in the executive branch of the state government of Maryland in the United States. He or she is elected on the same ticket as the Governor of Maryland and must meet the same qualifications.The current Lieutenant Governor is...
and former Maryland GOP Party chair. - Ray Bly: Small businessman, appliance repairman, and Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran. (Campaign website) - Earl S. Gordon:
- Thomas J. Hampton: Accountant and environmentalist. (Campaign website)
- John B. KimbleJohn B. KimbleJohn B. Kimble is an American behavioral scientist and a Republican Candidate for the 2012 United States Senate election in Maryland....
: Behavioral researcher. (Campaign website) - Edward Raymond Madej:
- Daniel Muffoletto: Small businessman and environmentalist.
- Richard Shawver: Activist
- Corrogan R. Vaughn: Small businessman, limo driver. (Campaign website)
- Daniel VovakDaniel VovakDaniel "The Wig Man" Vovak was a comedy writer and satirist perhaps best known for his tongue-in-cheek political Republican candidacies and for The Blue Dress, a movie script he wrote about the Monica Lewinsky scandal and which he was reportedly producing as a movie. He also was a ghostwriter...
, "The Wig Man": GhostwriterGhostwriterA ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
and owner of Greenwich Creations. (Campaign website)
Campaign
Michael S. SteeleMichael S. Steele
Michael Stephen Steele is an American politician who served as the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee from January 2009 until January 2011. From 2003 to 2007, he was the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, the first African American elected to statewide...
was expected to win the Republican Primary, even to the point where Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television is a non-profit, state-licensed Public Broadcasting Service non-commercial educational public television state network which serves U.S. state of Maryland. Its six transmitters cover nearly all of the state, plus Washington, D.C...
personality Jeff Salkin declared at a Maryland League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
debate that Steele is "unopposed.". Among a field of nine other candidates, the only Republican receiving sufficient media coverage was Daniel Vovak
Daniel Vovak
Daniel "The Wig Man" Vovak was a comedy writer and satirist perhaps best known for his tongue-in-cheek political Republican candidacies and for The Blue Dress, a movie script he wrote about the Monica Lewinsky scandal and which he was reportedly producing as a movie. He also was a ghostwriter...
.
Results
Candidates
- Michael S. SteeleMichael S. SteeleMichael Stephen Steele is an American politician who served as the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee from January 2009 until January 2011. From 2003 to 2007, he was the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, the first African American elected to statewide...
(R)- Lieutenant Governor - Ben CardinBen CardinBenjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin is the junior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1987 to 2007.Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in...
(D)- U.S. Congressman - Kevin ZeeseKevin ZeeseKevin Zeese is an American political activist who has been a leader in the drug policy reform and peace movements and in efforts to ensure a voter verified paper audit trail. He was on the ballot as the nominee of the Maryland Green Party for a U.S. Senate seat during the 2006 election, receiving...
(G)- (Campaign website). Zeese won the nominations of the Maryland Green PartyMaryland Green PartyThe Maryland Green Party is the state party organization for Maryland of the Green Party of the United States.The Maryland Green Party qualified as a recognized political party on August 17, 2000, since that time the party has grown dramatically and as of June 30, 2007 there were 8,108 Greens in...
, the Libertarian Party of MarylandLibertarian Party of MarylandThe Libertarian Party of Maryland is the Maryland affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The state chair is Robert S. Johnston III.- External links:*...
, and the Populist Party of MarylandPopulist Party of MarylandThe Populist Party of Maryland originated as a vehicle for ballot access for the 2004 Ralph Nader presidential campaign. Unlike such groups in other states, the PPMD organization has survived beyond 2004, laboring to field candidates for local political offices...
, the first time all three parties had nominated the same candidate. However, a Maryland law passed in April 2006 prohibited such fusion candidacies, so Zeese, who was a registered Green Party member, was listed on the ballot as only the Green Party candidate.
Campaign
This was Maryland's first open Senate seat since 1986, when junior Senator Barbara MikulskiBarbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
was first elected.
Michael Steele won the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination after facing little competition in the contest for the Republican ticket. With mostly unknown secondary candidates, Steele received 87% of the Republican Primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
vote.
Third District Congressional Representative Ben Cardin
Ben Cardin
Benjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin is the junior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1987 to 2007.Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in...
won the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination after facing tough competition in the contest for the Democratic ticket from former congressman and NAACP President Kweisi Mfume
Kweisi Mfume
Kweisi Mfume is the former President/CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People , as well as a five-term Democratic Congressman from Maryland's 7th congressional district, serving in the 100th through 104th Congress...
, businessman Josh Rales, former Baltimore County Executive Dennis F. Rasmussen
Dennis F. Rasmussen
Dennis F. Rasmussen is a Maryland politician, who ran as a Democrat in the 2006 Maryland U.S. Senate election. He lost the nomination to Ben Cardin, after receiving 2% of the votes...
, and several lesser known candidates. Cardin received 44% of the Democratic Primary vote to 40% for Mfume, his next closest competitor. All other candidates received percentages only in the single digits.
Kevin Zeese
Kevin Zeese
Kevin Zeese is an American political activist who has been a leader in the drug policy reform and peace movements and in efforts to ensure a voter verified paper audit trail. He was on the ballot as the nominee of the Maryland Green Party for a U.S. Senate seat during the 2006 election, receiving...
, the nominee for the Green
Maryland Green Party
The Maryland Green Party is the state party organization for Maryland of the Green Party of the United States.The Maryland Green Party qualified as a recognized political party on August 17, 2000, since that time the party has grown dramatically and as of June 30, 2007 there were 8,108 Greens in...
, Populist
Populist Party of Maryland
The Populist Party of Maryland originated as a vehicle for ballot access for the 2004 Ralph Nader presidential campaign. Unlike such groups in other states, the PPMD organization has survived beyond 2004, laboring to field candidates for local political offices...
and Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
Parties, was also on the ballot.
Though Steele lost the general election by 10%, a much wider margin than predicted, his was the best showing for a Republican in a Senate race in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
since Charles Mathias, Jr.
Charles Mathias, Jr.
Charles McCurdy "Mac" Mathias, Jr. was a Republican member of the United States Senate, representing Maryland from 1969 to 1987...
was reelected in 1980 with 66% of the vote.
Controversies
Both Steele and Cardin made controversial statements and advertising throughout the campaign.Debates
The first debate of the race was held Tuesday, October 3, 2006. All three candidates were present and participated. The evening was hosted by the Baltimore Urban League, and moderated by Charles Robinson from Maryland Public TelevisionMaryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television is a non-profit, state-licensed Public Broadcasting Service non-commercial educational public television state network which serves U.S. state of Maryland. Its six transmitters cover nearly all of the state, plus Washington, D.C...
and Doni Glover from BMORENEWS.
The first televised debate of the campaign was broadcast on News Channel 8 on the program "News Talk". All three candidates participated in the debate, and were moderated by Bruce DePuyt, the host of the program. There was no audience. This debate was widely reported because of the constant bickering between the three candidates, who often interrupted and talked over one another.
Another debate took place between Steele and Cardin on Sunday, October 29, 2006 as a part of the Meet The Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
Senatorial debate series. Moderated by Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
, the debate focused primarily on the Iraq War and stem-cell research, amongst other issues.
The three candidates all participated in the final debate of the campaign on Friday, November 3, 2006. The event was sponsored by the Collective Banking Group and held at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden.
Tactics
Cardin primarily attacked Steele over his close relations with President Bush, including pictures of Bush and Steele in Cardin's TV ads. Steele focused on low taxes, less government spending, free markets and national security.Polling
| Source | Date | Cardin (D) | Steele (R) | Zeese (G) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA | November 6, 2006 | 49% | 46% | 3% |
| Mason-Dixon/MSNBC | November 5, 2006 | 47% | 44% | 1% |
| SurveyUSA | November 3, 2006 | 47% | 47% | |
| Baltimore Sun/Potomac Inc. | November 2, 2006 | 49% | 43% | 2% |
| Reuters/Zogby | November 2, 2006 | 49% | 44% | |
| Washington Post | October 29, 2006 | 54% | 43% | 1% |
| Rasmussen | October 26, 2006 | 49% | 42% | |
| Garin Hart Yang (D) | October 23-24, 2006 | 52% | 40% | |
| VC Research (R) | October 22-23, 2006 | 41% | 39% | |
| SurveyUSA | October 18, 2006 | 46% | 46% | 3% |
| Rasmussen | October 16, 2006 | 53% | 44% | |
| USA Today/Gallup | October 6, 2006 | 54% | 39% | |
| Reuters/Zogby | October 5, 2006 | 45% | 37% | |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R) | October 2-4, 2006 | 47% | 43% | |
| Mason-Dixon/MSNBC | October 2, 2006 | 47% | 41% | 1% |
| Zogby/Wall Street Journal | September 28, 2006 | 52% | 39% | |
| VC Research (R) | September 27-28, 2006 | 44% | 39% | |
| Baltimore Sun/Potomac Inc. | September 25, 2006 | 51% | 40% | |
| SurveyUSA | September 20, 2006 | 47% | 48% | 4% |
| Rasmussen | September 19, 2006 | 50% | 43% | |
| Zogby/Wall Street Journal | September 10, 2006 | 49% | 40% | |
| Gonzales Research | August 30, 2006 | 44% | 39% | |
| Zogby/Wall Street Journal | August 28, 2006 | 50% | 41% | |
| Rasmussen | August 18, 2006 | 47% | 42% | |
| Public Opinion Strategies (R) | August 1-2, 2006 | 43% | 35% | |
| Zogby/Wall Street Journal | July 24, 2006 | 50% | 42% | |
| Rasmussen | July 17, 2006 | 47% | 41% | |
| Baltimore Sun/Potomac Inc. | July 6-10, 2006 | 47% | 36% | |
| Washington Post | June 25, 2006 | 49% | 39% | |
| Zogby/Wall Street Journal | June 21, 2006 | 51% | 40% | |
| Rasmussen | April 25, 2006 | 45% | 35% | |
| Gonzales Research | April 18, 2006 | 49% | 35% | |
| Zogby/Wall Street Journal | March 31, 2006 | 49% | 39% | |
| Rasmussen | February 22, 2006 | 49% | 35% | |
| Zogby | January 20, 2006 | 49% | 43% | |
| Rasmussen | January 13, 2006 | 40% | 45% | |
| Rasmussen | November 21, 2005 | 49% | 41% | |
| Baltimore Sun | October 25, 2005 | 47% | 38% | |
| Baltimore Sun | April, 2005 | 41% | 37% |