Joe Biden

Joe Biden: "Beau Has Put Duty Above Any Personal Ambition"

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2010, 11:20AM

Vice President Joe Biden and his son, State Attorney General Beau Biden (D-DE).

Vice President Joe Biden is praising the decision by his son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, to not run for his father's former Senate seat this year and instead to focus on prosecuting a high-profile case involving alleged child abuse.

"I know I sound like the proud father I am, but all of his life, Beau has put duty above any personal ambition, and this decision today is another example of that exceptional character trait," Vice President Biden said in a statement provided to TPMDC. "Jill and I are so proud of our son and feel fortunate as Delawareans that he is our Attorney General."

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Beau Biden

Beau Biden Not Running For Senate In Delaware

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2010, 9:55AM

Delaware AG Beau Biden

In a major setback for Democratic chances in 2010, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, a son of Vice President Joe Biden, has announced that he will not run in this November's special election for his father's former Senate seat.

In his official statement, Beau Biden cited the importance of his current work on a high-profile child abuse case in Delaware. Sources close to Vice President Biden suggested to TPMDC that Beau did not want to walk away from such a high-profile case.

"However, my first responsibilities are here in Delaware. I have a duty to fulfill as Attorney General -- and the immediate need to focus on a case of great consequence," Beau Biden writes. "And that is what I must do. Therefore I cannot and will not run for the United States Senate in 2010. I will run for reelection as Attorney General."

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DE-SEN

Poll: GOPer Castle Narrowly Ahead In Delaware Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | December 3, 2009, 10:53AM

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

The new survey of Delaware by Public Policy Polling (D) shows Republican Congressman Mike Castle ahead in the 2010 race for Vice President Biden's former Senate seat, against likely Dem candidate (and Biden son) state Attorney General Beau Biden -- but not by much.

The numbers: Castle 45%, Biden 39%, with a ±4.1% margin of error. This is nearly the same as the last PPP survey of this race from way back in March, which put Castle ahead by 44%-36%.

From the pollster's analysis: "There had been some speculation about whether Castle's vote against the health care bill in the House last month would hurt his prospects but 46% of voters say they're opposed to the plan with only 43% in support, an indication that Castle may have actually been on the right side of public opinion on that particular issue."

Interestingly a poll from a few weeks ago by Republican firm Susquehanna put Biden ahead by 45%-40%. So we have the novel situation of a Dem pollster saying the Republican candidate is ahead, and a GOP pollster saying the Dem is ahead.

DE-SEN

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

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

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

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)

DE-SEN

Poll: Mike Castle, Beau Biden In Dead Heat For Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2009, 4:53PM

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

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll finds a dead heat in the 2010 Delaware Senate race -- a special election for Vice President Joe Biden's Senate -- between the likely Republican nominee, Rep. Mike Castle, and Joe Biden's son, the likely Dem nominee Beau Biden.

The numbers: Castle 46%, Biden the Younger 45%, within the ±4% margin of error. Castle has officially declared his candidacy, while Biden has said he is strongly considering it.

Other Democrats were also tested against Castle, and they did not do as well: Appointed Sen. Ted Kaufman trails by 51%-37%, former Lt. Gov. John Carney (who is running for Castle's House seat) is behind by 49%-41%, and New Castle County Executive Chris Coons trails by 51%-39%.

The poll also showed Carney leading two Republicans for the House race, though with less than 50% support: He's ahead of former state Sen. Charlie Copeland by 44%-21%, and leads state Rep. Greg Lavelle by 45%-18%.

DE-SEN

GOPer Mike Castle To Run For Joe Biden's Senate Seat

Eric Kleefeld | October 6, 2009, 11:02AM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

In a very positive development for national Republicans, Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) will be running for Senate in 2010, in the November special election for Vice President Joe Biden's former Senate seat, and he will make his announcement at noon.

A GOP source has confirmed the news to TPM.

Castle has never lost a race during his political career of more than 40 years, serving in the state legislature, as Lt. governor, governor, and as the state's lone member of the House. A recent Rasmussen poll had him leading a likely appointment, state Attorney General Beau Biden (son of Joe Biden), by 47%-42%.

It's way too early to make any firm predictions about this race, as both candidates have their pluses and minuses. But this should definitely be a competitive race, and a potential pick-up for the GOP as they seek to bring the Democrats below 60 seats again.

DE-SEN

Poll: GOPer Mike Castle Leads Beau Biden For Delaware Senate Seat

Eric Kleefeld | October 1, 2009, 1:00PM

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

A new Rasmussen poll in Delaware finds that Republican Congressman Mike Castle could potentially beat state Attorney General Beau Biden -- a son of Vice President Joe Biden -- in the 2010 special election for the VP's Senate seat.

The numbers: Castle 47%, Beau Biden 42%. In addition, Beau leads 2008 GOP Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell, a marketing consultant who lost by 65%-35%, by a smaller but still significant margin of 49%-40%. The margin of error is ±4.5%.

As of right now, neither Castle nor Beau are officially in the race, but they are widely viewed as potential candidates. O'Donnell is the only declared contender for the seat.