Beau Biden Biding Time On Delaware Senate Race

Democrat Beau Biden), Delaware's attorney general, said on national television Thursday that he is "absolutely" considering a run for the Senate in 2010. But he also made it clear he's not in a rush to commit for the special election for the seat long held by his father, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Democratic officials are anxiously awaiting a decision by the younger Biden. They consider him their strongest prospect to prevent a takeover of the Senate seat by Republican Michael N. Castle, the longtime incumbent in the state's only U.S. House seat and a former governor.

Castle, after mulling a bid for months, announced his candidacy on Oct. 6.

But the younger Biden, in an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America," noted that he just recently returned to Delaware after spending a year fulfilling a military obligation in Iraq, and he wants to spend some time with his family and concentrate on his duties as attorney general before deciding on his next move.

"There's time to make that decision," Biden said. "But first things first, make sure I focus on my family, focus on my job. Look, am I considering it? Absolutely. Absolutely. But I'll be making the decision in due course."

The 2010 contest will fill out the remaining four years of the term Joe Biden won last November even as he was being elected vice president on the Democratic ticket headed by Barack Obama.

Democrat Ted Kaufman, an associate and former aide to Joe Biden, was appointed to replace him on an interim basis after he resigned in January to become vice president. Kaufman announced at the time of his appointment that he would not be a candidate for the 2010 special election.

Although Democrats have generally had the upper hand in Delaware over recent election cycles, Castle's candidacy prompted CQ Politics to change the rating of the Delaware Senate race to Leans Republican. That rating is subject to possible further changes based on future developments.

To see how all of the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics election map.