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Poll: Beau Biden Ahead Of Mike Castle In Delaware Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | November 16, 2009, 3:19PM

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Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) and state Atty. Gen. Beau Biden (D-DE)

Beau Biden, DE-SEN, Mike Castle, Senate '10

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A new Susquehanna (R) poll of the Delaware Senate race gives Democratic state Attorney General Beau Biden, a son of Vice President Joe Biden, a five-point lead over long-time GOP Congressman Mike Castle in the 2010 race for Joe Biden's former Senate seat.

The numbers: Beau 45%, Castle 40%, with a ±3.36% margin of error. Way back in April, the last time Susquehanna polled this race, they had Castle with a whopping lead of 55%-34%.

This is big news, considering that Castle has been in state politics for over 40 years and has never lost a race, and was seen as a moderate candidate whose entrance into the race gave a huge boost to the GOP.

The pollster's analysis says that this is the first public poll in which Beau Biden has been ahead, and suggests that Castle's current decline "may be a result of negative publicity he received in the state after casting a 'no; vote for President Obama's health care reform bill in the U.S. Congress. The current poll was conducted 11/10 - 11/15, the week immediately following the weekend when the U.S. House of Representatives voted on this landmark legislation."

(Via Dave Weigel)

Comments (8) | Join the Conversation!

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Michael A

November 16, 2009 3:26 PM

The negative polling is probably attributable to the R behind castle's name. Castle can thank the repuke leadership of Rambo of the Northwest, lush and train wreck beck. Most sane people would not want to give the repukes another vote in either the house or the senate based on the insanity coming from the leadership. Now if castle was running in say alabama, he would be in good shape.

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ondioline

November 16, 2009 3:32 PM in reply to Michael A

Hey, what are ya gonna do? I say, if they like anchors so much, let each of them wear one around his or her neck for a while...

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Subliminability

November 16, 2009 3:29 PM

Geau Beau!

As I recall from the convention, he's a good speaker.

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Walter Mitty

November 16, 2009 4:09 PM

Delaware wants to build up it's seniority, Castle would be a one and done. With Beau, he could be in that seat for 30 years.

In small states, if you want to challenge a long time incumbent you're much better off going with a 40 something - I think Grassley coud have been vulnerable, but Iowa isn't going to give up Grassley's seniority for a one and done Conlin.

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Michael A

November 16, 2009 4:16 PM in reply to Walter Mitty

I think that you are giving too much credit to voters. I don't believe that they think that long term. Castle is being drug down by the insanity of the repuke party.

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Avvocato

November 16, 2009 5:24 PM

When it comes to national politics there are no moderate Republicans. A moderate republican is an oxymoron. (although hardcore republicans are just morons).

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