New poll in still hypothetical Castle-Biden Senate race

The latest poll in the possible match-up for one of Delaware's U.S. Senate seats between Congressman Mike Castle (R) and Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden (D) shows Castle holding onto a 45% to 39% lead over Biden.

The poll by Public Policy Polling (PPP) in North Carolina surveyed 571 Delawareans from November 30 through December 2.  It has a margin of error of 4.1%.

The results were very similar to a poll of the hypothetical race done by PPP in March.  At that time, Castle held a 44% to 36% lead over Castle.  That poll was taken when neither Castle nor Biden had announced their official plans to run.  Of the two, only Castle has now made his candidacy official.  Biden says he's "seriously considering" joining the race.

PPP president Dean Debnam says Castle is holding the lead due in part to his popularity with independent and Democratic voters.  "Castle has more appeal to Democrats and independents than any  other Republican Senate candidate in the country."

Last month, a similar poll done by another polling firm, Susquehanna Polling and Research, gave Biden a slight advantage with 45% compared to Castle's 40%.  That poll was taken a few days after Castle voted against the health care reform bill in the House, to which the pollsters attributed his declining numbers.  But the current poll shows 46% of Delawareans oppose the health care bill, while 43% support it, which could mean that Castle's vote was more in line with public opinion than previously thought.