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Democrats Hope To Retain Delaware Senate Seat

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- Delaware Democrats are hoping their greater numbers will help them beat back tea-party fueled Republican opponents such as Christine O'Donnell in the midterm elections.

Democratic New Castle County executive Chris Coons and O'Donnell are battling in a special election Tuesday for the Senate seat held by Joe Biden for more than three decades before he became vice president. The winner will serve the remaining four years of the term Biden won in 2008, when he easily beat O'Donnell.

Democrats, who outnumber Republicans in Delaware by more than 110,000, also are seeking to reclaim Delaware's lone U.S. House seat in a race pitting former lieutenant governor John Carney Jr. against tea-party supported Republican businessman Glen Urquhart.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday, and will close at 8 p.m.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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