Public Policy has Castle up by 6
Dec 3rd, 2009 by David Anderson
I will publish an exclusive interview with the public policy polling team tonight. We go beyond the headlines and look at potential primary pitfalls for Mr. Castle including a third of Republicans who think that he is too liberal and a low 61% approval within his party. and weaknesses and strengths of both candidates. We will also have a preview of tomorrow’s poll release on Carper, Markell, and Kaufman. It appears the Biden post Iraq bounce is gone. Speculation that opposition to health care deform contributed to a Castle plunge early in the month is unfounded. More Delawareans oppose it than favor it.
Now his advantage is 45-39.
Castle is benefiting from a 52-23 advantage with independents as well as the fact that
he’s winning 20% of the Democratic vote while holding Biden to just 10% of the
Republican vote.
Castle is considerably more popular with the state’s voters, as 55% have a favorable
opinion of him to just 28% who see him unfavorably. 43% hold a positive opinion of
Biden with 35% viewing him in a negative light.
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.
After winning more than 60% of the vote in the state last year Barack Obama has fallen sharply to 53%
Last night at the U of D forum Ed Gillespie was effusive in his praise of Mike Castle, it was impressive.
He made the point he would support a moderate (R) over a Liberal to Moderate (D) anytime. It comes down to the ability to win and Castle is seen as the guy who can beat Biden.
Ideological purity was important but not critical.
Mike Protack
Am I the only one who is tired of hearing from people in the know, who say that Castle is the only one? The people I talk to, just ordinary people who work for a living and who will be impacted by Mr. Castle’s votes for things like cap and trade , are saying , no way will they vote for Castle again. The party leadership must give up this ridiculous idea that they can somehow rehabilitate his image with conservative voters. They can mouth the mantra a million times, but it won’t make him a conservative and it won’t make him acceptable to those who are.
Castle is the only one; this is a liberal state; check the last few statewide elections. I’ll take Castle over Biden, any day.