Castle vs. (Beau) Biden Makes for Close Delaware Senate Race

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden and nine-term Republican Rep. Mike Castle are running neck-and-neck when matched up in a race to fill the Senate seat of Biden's father, Vice President Joseph Biden, according to a Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll conducted Oct. 12-14.

Castle polls 46 percent to Biden's 45 percent with 9 percent undecided. Castle has higher support than Biden among voters in his own party (82 percent) while Biden draws 72 percent of Democrats. Castle leads among independents 48 percent to 40 percent.

Biden is seen favorably by 65 percent of voters and unfavorably by 29 percent with 6 percent expressing no opinion. Castle is regarded favorably by 64 percent and unfavorably by 30 percent with 6 percent having no opinion.

Castle has announced his candidacy; Biden said this week on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he was "absolutely" considering the race but wanted to spend time with his family first after returning recently from a year's tour in Iraq with the Army National Guard.

In other potential match-ups testing Castle's strength should Biden, for some reason, decide not to run:

Castle leads Sen. Ted Kaufman, a former aide to Biden who was appointed to fill the seat when Biden became Vice President, by 51 percent to 37 percent with 12 percent undecided. However, Kaufman made clear when he was named that he was an interim choice would not not seek a full-term next year.

Castle leads John Carney, a former lieutenant governor, by 49 percent to 41 percent with 10 percent undecided. However, Carney has set his eyes on winning the state's lone House seat. Carney enjoys leads of 2-to-1 or better against potential Republican opponents for the seat.

Castle leads New Castle County Executive Chris Coons by 51 percent to 39 percent with 10 percent undecided.