Coons leads O’Donnell in latest Senate poll

The Monmouth University Poll shows leads for Coons and Carney. Likely voters say O’Donnell unqualified for Senate.

Democrat Chris Coons holds a 19 point lead over Republican Christine O’Donnell in the latest poll in the Delaware U.S. Senate race.

The Monmouth University poll of likely voters, released Tuesday, gives 57 percent of the support to Coons and 38 percent to O’Donnell.

The poll also finds that the majority of likely voters in the First State feel O’Donnell is not qualified to serve in the U.S. Senate.

While the race is basically tied in Kent and Sussex counties (47-46, O’Donnell), the Democrat holds an overwhelming 63-33 advantage in New Castle County.

While 64 percent say Coons, the New Castle County executive, is qualified to be a U.S. Senator, only 35 percent say the same of O’Donnell. More than 57 percent say she is unqualified for the job.

Delaware voters’ opinion of O’Donnell is in sharp contrast to their view of her GOP primary opponent, outgoing Congressman Mike Castle. Likely Delaware voters give Castle a positive 56 percent favorable rating, 26 percent unfavorable.

“What looked like a probable Senate pick-up for Republicans has quickly slipped from their grasp, said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “In fact, with Mike Castle off the ballot for the first time in years, Delaware may provide one of the only opportunities for Democrats to flip a House seat this year.”

In the race to fill Castle’s House seat, the poll finds Democrat John Carney holding a 53-44 lead over Republican Glen Urquhart.