Opponents of slots machine gambling are literally praying for a miracle that will produce a David-and-Goliath-type victory today in their underfunded, faith-based campaign to defeat Question 2.
“We believe we have momentum at our backs,” said state Comptroller Peter Franchot. “We think we’re in shooting distance of getting a great victory. We’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll have a good result.”
Unlike Franchot and a few others, much of the Democratic political establishment in Maryland along with its largest unions and business groups are gearing up to work the polls, having outspent slots foes 10 to 1 on radio and TV ads.
“They’re continuing today to get their members mobilized and out to the polls,” said Steve Kearney, spokesman for For Maryland For Our Future, the pro-slots umbrella group. “By this point people have made up their minds and we just want to make sure they get out to vote and get down past the judges to vote on Question 2.”
At New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore Monday, yet another group of black ministers came out to blast slots gambling as a scourge on the members of the community who can least afford it.
“I’m disturbed because it’s almost hidden … what the slots will really do” to the community, said the Rev. Alfred C.D. Vaughn of Sharon Baptist Church. “It’s a destructive thing.”
The pastors and two of the only Baltimore City delegates to oppose slots were particularly critical of Gov. Martin O’Malley and Mayor Sheila Dixon, who once opposed slots but are now backing the current plan.
The Rev. Heber Brown of Pleasant Hope Baptist said when gambling losses begin to destroy families, “They won’t call the governor, they won’t call the mayor, they’ll call the pastors for help.”
“The people who make decisions in Annapolis are gutless cowards,” said Del. Curt Anderson, D-Baltimore. “They would rather try to make their money on the backs of the poor than increase taxes and face the wrath of taxpayers.”
Del. Jill Carter called slots “the ultimate betrayal” by the state’s political leadership. City Comptroller Joan Pratt said the machines were the wrong way to go in funding government and would bring in far less money than expected.
Kearney said slots opponents “don’t want to talk about what the alternatives are” — budget cuts or higher taxes.
O’Malley said recently that he didn’t think he could get “three votes” for any new taxes after the major tax increases last year, and he expected “a nasty spiral of greater and greater cuts to programs” if slots fail to pass today.
Opponents cite a new Zogby Interactive poll showing slots might fail, but that contradicts three other recent polls that found the new gambling would win.
llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com
