Poll: Biden's Son Trails For Senate Seat
A new survey of Delaware from Public Policy Polling (D) should cause some level of concern for Democrats. In a possible match-up for Joe Biden's former Senate seat in 2010, Republican Congressman Mike Castle is currently ahead of Biden's son Beau, who was elected state attorney general in 2006.
The numbers: Castle 44%, Beau Biden 36%, outside the ±3.5% margin of error, though with high undecideds.
Among Democrats, who make up 51% of the sample, Beau leads by 54%-22%. Republicans, at only 29% of the sample, solidly back Castle by 75%-15%. And among others, at 20% of the sample, Castle has a lead of 53%-20%.
From the pollster's analysis: "Mike Castle has served in statewide office now for almost 30 years and that higher level of familiarity with Delaware voters gives him an advantage over Beau Biden. Biden's numbers would surely improve as he became more well known to voters in a statewide campaign but I'm sure the Democrats would nonetheless be quite happy for Congressman Castle to stay where he is."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
My guess is a lot of people don't realize that Castle is a republican.
March 10, 2009 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
after 30 years????
March 10, 2009 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Regrettably, I have heard that biden jr. is not that popular and in fact has gotten quite a bit of criticism for his job as ag. People claim that he is over his head and that it is just nepotism that got him the job. This poll doesn't sound good. Maybe biden doesn't run, because he very well might lose. He's young enough to run in the future.
March 10, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
How does nepotism work in an election? Biden won office with 52.5% of the vote. Maybe it was name recognition because there aren't that many Bidens in Delaware.
Biden also has a 50% approval rating, even though he's been deployed since October.
March 10, 2009 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, name recognition. I am just relaying what I heard when I was working in delaware for a while. I was actually surprised about what I heard. He isn't that popular and he got the ag gig based on the name and he is having problems. That's what I heard.
March 10, 2009 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Screw nepotism, let's get a stronger candidate. Can't afford to lose this seat.
March 10, 2009 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mike Castle is probably as well known and possibly better liked than Biden. I live in Pa, but just across the border from Del. and will bet whats left of my retirement on Castle. Hopefully that will cover the recent losses.
History may tell us that Obamas greatest mistake in his first term was gutting the Senate caucus to fill his cabinet. He weakened the leadership, as Reid is such a weak leader, he brought hard earned seats into play, or loss (ie. Gillibrand), ruined the Party in two states (AZ and KS), and for what? There are people equal or superior outside these office holders.
March 10, 2009 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your point about history is a valid one, unfortunately. After he picked biden and clinton, he probably should have left the rest alone. Also, the az and ks pickups that we lost are very troubling. I'd rather have napolitano and sebilius in the senate.
March 10, 2009 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blame Paterson for making Gilibrand's seat vulnerable. He could have picked from a dozen more-seasoned people and not put that seat at risk.
There was a report saying that Sebelius was not going to run for the Senate because she's used to being an executive and doesn't want to be one of 100.
March 10, 2009 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really, on sebilius? I can see that but I thought she was game. She really is an excellent governor and I thought she would be great in the senate. She will be great at hhs as well.
March 10, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Beau got a lot of bad publicity in Delaware when he was running for AG and it was revealed that he failed the Delaware bar 3 times. That makes the nepotism charge all the more damaging to his political future.
March 10, 2009 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't seem to matter since he had no prosecutor experience and beat a guy who (a) passed the bar on the first try and (b) as spent 20 years as a prosecutor.
March 10, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wouldn't write him off this early. There probably will be be some "war hero" spin (even though he's serving in the JAG, he's still in a combat zone) that could factor in.
March 10, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kinda stupid not to have appointed him to the Senate so he could run as an incumbent.
March 10, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Due to the fact that he wasn't appointed and he is having problems in delaware, I am guessing that he might not run in any event. He's not as popular as his father by any means and has had a tough time as ag. He has plenty of time to run for the senate in the future when he has a better rep in delaware.
March 10, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Biden loses. Some of my ancestors fought a frigging war of independence to be freed of hereditary aristocracy.
March 10, 2009 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink