Stem cell research

Moderate GOPers In Tough Spot Over Stem Cell Research

Christina Bellantoni | August 30, 2010, 10:52AM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

Democrats are sounding increasingly confident they can work out a bipartisan legislative fix to get around a judge's order halting all stem cell research, but in an election year where everything matters, are moderate Republicans really going to go along with the majority party? And might that cost one GOPer his Senate bid?

The two clearest examples are Republican Senate candidates Rep. Mark Kirk (IL) and Rep. Mike Castle (DE), who Democrats told TPM last week they expect to continue to support embryonic stem cell research as they have before.

But Castle is locked in a tough and nasty fight with Christine O'Donnell, a tea party favorite who is looking to become the next conservative insurgent to topple the establishment's pick. With the O'Donnell campaign targeting evangelical voters in advance of a Sept. 14 primary that could have fewer than 50,000 voters, this could be the issue to turn the race.

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Mike Castle

Tea Party: Mike Castle Is Just Another Arlen Specter

Brian Beutler | August 19, 2010, 1:00PM

Christine O'Donnell (R-DE) and Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-DE)

To the Tea Party, a vote for Delaware Senate hopeful Mike Castle (R) is a vote for a Democrat. Literally. Conservatives there are warning fellow tea partiers that if Castle gets elected, he'll pull an Arlen Specter and switch parties when the going gets tough. So they're endorsing his primary rival, Christine O'Donnell, instead.

"We are confident Christine O'Donnell will beat Mike Castle in the upcoming primary," , Delaware Vice President of the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC. "Christine is a strong grassroots favorite. While her opponent has the support of establishment types, Christine has the support of the people."

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DE-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: GOPer Castle Leads Dem Coons in DE-SEN Race

Thomas Rhiel | August 6, 2010, 5:33PM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), US Sen. candidate Chris Coons (D-DE), and US Sen. candidate Christine O'Donnell (R-DE).

Rasmussen's out with some new numbers from the seldom-polled Delaware Senate race for Joe Biden's old seat, and it looks like Democrat Chris Coons's chances will depend upon which GOP nominee gets the nod.

Republican Rep. Mike Castle has a 49%-37% lead over Coons, a margin a tad wider than the 47%-36% lead he had in Rasmussen's July 14 poll. Coons, in turn, has a 46%-36% lead over Republican Christine O'Donnell, theTea Party Express-endorsed Republican in the race. Support for O'Donnell has flagged since July 14, when she led Coons 41%-39%, and her unfavorable rating has jumped from 33% to 38%. Castle is the favorite in the September 14 Republican primary.

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