Public Policy Polling (3/5-8, registered voters):
Beau Biden (D): 36
Mike Castle (R): 44
Undecided: 20
(MoE: ±3.5%)
If Mike Castle ran, he’s in a position to do some serious damage… but we have no indication that the 71-year-old congressman is seriously mulling this race, other than being on the receiving end of a series of pleas from John Cornyn. While a campaign against Biden would force a grueling schedule on a guy who’s run into some health issues in recent years, and would undoubtedly attract a great deal of national money, he starts off the race with solid approvals: 54-33.
PPP will release re-elect numbers for Castle against former Lt. Governor John Carney on Thursday. That should be interesting to see, but I suspect Castle will again start off in strong shape.
More discussion is already underway in conspiracy’s diary.
Castle has been around Delaware for a long time, and he’s fairly moderate. I wondered in the past if he might make a run for the office. His age would be a detriment, not to mention previous health issues.
Once Beau Biden started campaigning, I think he’d have a good shot of defeating Castle. I can’t imagine Castle really enjoys working in the minority of the House, so at this time I’d say there’s a potential that he would jump into this race.