Poll: Cardin, Mfume in close race, but top Steele

The race between Rep. Ben Cardin and ex-Rep. Kweisi Mfume for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination continues to be close, despite Cardin?s huge advantages in fundraising and endorsements, according to a new poll. But both men are shown beating Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, the likely Republican nominee for the seat being vacated by Sen. Paul Sarbanes.

According to a statewide Gonzales Research media poll released today, Cardin leads Mfume 39 percent to 31 percent in the Democratic primary. Cardin, the longtime Baltimore-area congressman, leads 49 percent to 13 percent among white voters, while Mfume, the former president of the NAACP, has a 69 percent to 17 percent lead among black voters.