Taking A Pull At Maryland's Slots Referendum

While most of the focus south of the District has been on whether or not Barack Obama can carry the state of Virginia, the electoral fervor north of D.C. has been about slot machines. With good reason: this morning's Post notes that while some polls referendum which would legalize slot machine gambling in Maryland passing easily, others have the referendum stuck squarely between the margin of error. Even though slots supporters have about seven times the amount of funds as anti-slotters, the race -- even at this advanced date -- is about as unpredictable as it gets. If the motion wins, supporters claim that tax revenues from slot machines would alleviate a big chunk of Maryland's $1.7 billion budget deficit. Those who oppose the measure - like Stop Slots Maryland - claim the usual anti-gambling talking points: that financial gains from slots would be smaller than thought and offset by the costs in fighting higher crime and addiction rates. Expect this race to go all night on Tuesday.