It’s no secret that Senate Republicans have hungrily eyed Delaware’s at-large Rep. Mike Castle to pursue the state’s open Senate seat in 2010, and there’s no doubt that Castle would be a major force to be reckoned with should he enter the race. Susquehanna (not the most reputable GOP polling firm) released a poll in May showing Castle leading Democrat Beau Biden by a 55-34 margin, and the much more reputable Public Policy Polling gave Castle an 8-point edge over Biden, Jr. in March. Republican recruiters have been courting Castle heavily, and one local reporter is breathlessly claiming that a Castle candidacy is as good as gold.
The only problem? Castle sure doesn’t sound like a candidate… for anything:
Castle knows his likely opponent would be Biden’s son Beau, Delaware’s attorney general, now serving as a National Guard lawyer in Iraq.
The Biden dynasty draws national money. Meanwhile, says Castle, “my wife talks about beaches in Florida. I don’t know if I want to run for the House again, let alone for the four years of Biden’s term.”
But Castle’s the last proven vote-getter the Republicans have in the First State. If he steps down, Democrats could take both Senate and House posts. “That’s the quandary.”
It sounds to me like Castle is mulling the Senate race as a courtesy to his friends in Washington… but he clearly would rather be catching some rays with his wife. He says that he’ll deliver his final decision “by the end of summer”.
to run for the House again. From this quote, he sounds like he has less interest in running for the Senate than the House.
I would think that AG Biden might want to get in the race soon to discourage Castle. I’m not sure there are any other potential candidates who have much of a chance honestly.
Back in 1972, Joe Biden defeated Caleb Boggs because Boggs was reluctant to run again. Castle seems to have the same feelings as Boggs did in 1972.
A reluctant candidate won’t do much good for the Republicans. Even if he did run, I question if he would defeat Beau Biden if his heart is not in it.
His dad basically implied that on MTP a couple weeks ago. Some are suggesting this means he won’t run against Castle, but I think he’ll win, with or without Castle running. Once everyone becomes more familiar with him and sees him as something other than his father’s son, he’ll probably win by a much better margin than the current polls are suggesting.
replaced, Adams. That would mean actual change in Delaware.
Yeah, I think Castle’s retiring too. He’s fragile healthwise, whatever happens in 2011+ isn’t going to be Republican hands on Capitol Hill anyway. Not much reason for him to care. And being junior Senator from a tiny state with no seniority is a pretty ambiguous prize; it puts you at the bottom of Senate power rankings.
for old Republican incumbents to encourage them to retire.
The only reason Castle could want to be in the Senate for 4 years would to maybe bolster his profile for a high paid Lobbying gig afterwards, or maybe a book? Otherwise it makes zero sense as others have said. He will be in the deep minority and at the bottom of the totem poll in stature.