Poll shows Democrat with double-digit lead over Republican in open Delaware House seat

Poll: Dem leads Republican in open Del. House seat

DOVER, Del. — A new poll in Delaware shows a Democrat leading the race for a U.S. House seat that has been in Republican hands for 17 years.

The seat is being vacated by Republican Mike Castle, who opted to run for Senate but was upset by tea party favorite Christine O’Donnell in the GOP primary. Castle, the longest-serving congressman in the state’s history, was expected to easily win re-election before he decided to run for Senate.

The new poll shows Democrat and former Lt. Gov. John Carney Jr. leading Republican businessman Glen Urquhart 51 percent to 36 percent, with 10 percent undecided.

The telephone poll was released Tuesday by Fairleigh Dickinson University. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.