The UD Poll has released further results on the standings of our current elected officials, and the results are good across the board. Voters view Senator Tom Carper favorably by a margin of 64-17; Governor Jack Markell 62-25; Congressman Carney and 2016 Democratic nominee for Governor John Carney 59-18; Senator Christopher Coons 56-25; Attorney General Matt Denn 47-16; and State Treasurer Ken Simpler 34-10.
Candidates like Carper and Carney, who have been winning elections for decades, are both well-liked and well-known. About 80 percent of voters recognized them enough to register an opinion. Younger candidates in less prominent positions have less name recognition, but they are generally liked among those who know them. Only 44 percent of respondents gave an opinion on Simpler — the only Republican in the poll and the newest to the political scene — but more than three-quarters of them gave him a favorable opinion.
Brewer said Denn, who jumped from lieutenant governor to AG last year, is steadily building positive name recognition. More respondents gave an opinion of him than in previous polls, and that opinion was positive by a margin of 47-16 percent.
“Politically at least, it looks like it was a good play to go to attorney general,” Brewer said.
Yes, it sets him up to run for Governor in 2024, or Senator in 2018 or 2020 should either Carper or Coons retire.