ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Some political observers say alleged efforts by former Gov. Robert Ehrlich's campaign to keep black voters away from the polls last November could become fodder for Democrats.

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Steve Raabe, president of the OpinionWorks polling firm, tells The Baltimore Sun it will be a turnout tool and rallying cry for the black voters.

On Thursday, a grand jury indicted Ehrlich campaign manager Paul Schurick and consultant Julian Henson. They are charged with violating election laws with robocalls that told voters to "relax" because Gov. Martin O'Malley had won.

State Del. Dereck Davis, a Prince George's County Democrat, says the idea that black voters are fooled that easily is "getting close to being offensive." He describes the calls as "sophomoric."

Davis points to O'Malley's more than 14 percentage-point win over Ehrlich.