As soon as the extended hours of the polls closed in Maryland the networks fell over themselves to call the state for Barack Obama - suggesting it was a big win for him in the Old Line State, and three victories from three primaries on the night.
With two-thirds of votes counted Obama led by 23 percentage points with 60% to Hillary Clinton's 37%.
The exit polls taken earlier showed Obama winning broad support, with huge margins among black voters, who turned out in force, as well as among women and older voters - again eating into Hillary Clinton's core constituencies.
A quick calculation suggests Obama may win 42 of the state's 70 pledged delegates, leaving Clinton with perhaps 28 - and a margin of 14 more for Obama's total. (Assuming a 7 delegate margin from DC and 23 from Virginia, Obama would have won 44 delegates more than Clinton on the night, at a conservative estimate.)
Interesting fact about Maryland: in 1972's Democratic primary the state voted for the pro-segregationist George Wallace (shortly after Wallace survived an assassination attempt in Laurel). Now, 36 years later, it voted for a black candidate. Oh, and in 1992 Paul Tsongas beat Bill Clinton there - so Maryland has not been a happy state for the Clintons.
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