THAT. MARYLAND'S MARQUEE STATEWIDE ELECTION MATCHUP, THE RACE FOR U.S. SENATE, IS TIED. THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW AARP POLL. 46% OF LIKELY MARYLAND VOTERS SURVEYED IN MID-AUGUST SAID THEY'D SUPPORT PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY EXECUTIVE. DEMOCRAT ANGELA ALSOBROOKS, AND AN EQUAL NUMBER. ANOTHER 46% SAID THEY SUPPORT FORMER MARYLAND GOVERNOR REPUBLICAN LARRY HOGAN. WITH JUST OVER TWO MONTHS TILL ELECTION DAY, WE ASKED DIRECTOR OF THE UMBC INSTITUTE OF POLITICS, DOCTOR MELISSA CROMER, WHAT TO MAKE OF THE NEW NUMBERS. PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS POLL AND SAY, NOW WE HAVE A BASELINE. SO NOW WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE THE RACE GOES FROM HERE. WE'RE BASICALLY AT A STARTING POINT WHERE BOTH CANDIDATES ARE EVEN MOVING FORWARD, SHE SAYS. LOOK FOR HOGAN'S PITCH ABOUT BEING AN INDEPENDENT VOICE IN THE U.S. SENATE WITH ALSO BROOKS PUSHING BACK ON THE BALANCE OF POWER BEING AT STAKE, WHICH THE NOMINEE DID. WHEN WE CAUGHT UP WITH HER. THIS AFTERNOON AT A MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY MEET AND GREET. WE FEEL GREAT. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE RACE. WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON NOT ONLY REACHING EVERY VOTER IN THE STATE, BUT IT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO US ALSO THAT WE MUST MAINTAIN THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE. HOGAN, TODAY ON THE TRAIL IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, ACCORDING TO HIS TEAM TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN COLLEGE PARK THIS WEEK, HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEW POLL WITH C4 ON WBAL RADIO. WELL, WE COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED. I MEAN, IT'S SORT OF WHERE WE WERE HOPING TO GET TO, YOU KNOW, THIS POLLS TAKEN AT A KIND OF A PEAK TIME OF DEMOCRATIC ENTHUSIASM. AND I THINK THIS IS MAYBE A HIGH POINT, A HIGH POINT FOR THEM. IF THE POLL RESET THE RACE. THE FIRST ADS OF THE NEW PHASE ROLLED OUT TODAY. ARE YOU GOING TO CAUCUS WITH THE REPUBLICANS? OF COURSE I AM. I'M A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN. THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE MAKING SURE VOTERS KNOW HER RIVAL IS A REPUBLICAN. I'M A DIE HARD, LIFELONG REPUBLICAN. THE HOGAN CAMPAIGN SHOT BACK AND DID IT SWIFTLY IN A STATEMENT, CALLING IT A QUOTE, PARTIZAN ATTACK AD AND SAYING, QUOTE, THIS AD IS WHAT PANIC MODE LOOKS LIKE.