The Maryland Democratic Party is pointing to a new poll as proof that Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore) is taking Maryland in the right direction.

A survey paid for and conducted by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies shows 45 percent of those polled statewide approved of O'Malley's performance as the state's chief executive: an 8 point increase since March.

"Marylanders get it," said party chair Michael Cryor in a statement. "Marylanders understand we have more challenges before us and we expect smart, long term solutions that work."

Cryor defended O'Malley's budget cuts and revenue increases, saying they were "making Maryland work again."

Maryland Republican Party executive director Justin Ready had little praise for O'Malley's performance as governor. He says an approval rating in the forties for a Democratic governor in a state where Democrats outnumber Republican's 2-to-1 is nothing to brag about.

"As O'Malley and the Democrats track record of incompetence, corruption, and broken promises continues, more and more voters will be counting the days until Election Day 2010 when they can vote for real leadership that puts working families first," wrote Ready in an email to PolitickerMD.com.