GOP's Castle Way Ahead in Race for Joe Biden's Old Senate Seat

Just as Delaware Democrats feared, state Attorney General Beau Biden's decision not to seek his father's Senate seat has thrust Republican Rep. Mike Castle way into the lead in the race against the Democrat who is running, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Feb. 22.

Castle, who has spent nine terms as the state's only congressman, leads Coons 53 percent to 32 percent with 8 percent preferring another candidate and 8 percent undecided. Castle is seen favorably by 65 percent of voters and only 4 percent say they don't know enough about him to be sure. Twenty-two percent don't know enough about Coons to be sure.

Right now, Coons is attracting only 52 percent of fellow Democrats while Castle has the support of 35 percent of Democrats to add to the 66 percent of Republicans who back him. Unaffiliated voters back Castle by 69 percent to 12 percent. Castle leads 64 percent to 12 percent among conservatives and 55 percent to 37 percent among moderates. The remainder prefer some other candidate or are undecided.

Last October, Castle led Biden 47% to 42% in an earlier hypothetical match-up.

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