Carney Raises $262 K
Earlier this week we learned that Mike Castle raised around $125,000 during the last quarter, with only $14,000 of that amount coming from individual contributions and the balance coming from PACs and other political committees. We have remarked that these are hardly encouraging numbers for a man who plans to run for the Senate. Indeed, they are hardly good numbers for an incumbent looking to keep his job. And today we learn that John Carney, his possible Democratic challenger for reelection to the House, has outraised him in every way.
John Carney has reported raising $262,013 for the quarter, with $185,000 of that amount coming from individual contributions, the majority of which came from Delaware.
We also learn something interesting. Mike Castle donated $15,000 to the state GOP during the last quarter. The number strikes me as being nearly equal to the amount of his individual contributions. Perhaps Mike knows he is retiring and feels guilty about taking people’s money without putting it to use, so he donates it to the state party.
Here is my thoughts on the state of the Long Tease:
Mike Castle does not want to campaign for anything. He wants to retire. He will run for the Senate if he is given a coronation. And he will serve for four years, the remainder of Biden’s term, and then he is done, and Beau Biden can have “his turn.”
But if he has to campaign, in a competitive race against Beau Biden, where he will have to raise ten times the money he has raised so far, he won’t. So Mike Castle is waiting for Beau Biden to make up his mind. And Beau Biden cannot announce his intentions until September, when his tour of duty in Iraq ends.
We have been all concentrating on what Mike will do, when the real question is what Beau will do. And here is my nightmare scenario:
Beau decides to complete his AG term and run for reelection there. Castle announces a run for the Senate. Carney is running for the House. The Delaware Way is pleased. Castle doesn’t vigorously campaign against O’Whackjob. O’Whackjob wins the primary and then faces no serious Democratic opposition.
Any Democratic competition to O’Donnell would be serious, because I don’t think O’Donnell stands a chance of being elected. I do think everyone is waiting for Beau to get back and to see what he’s doing. Perhaps Denn or Coons would jump in if B. Biden passes. It would be a “freebie” (meaning neither is facing election in 2010) for either of them.
You had me with that nightmare scenerio up until the last two sentences.
There is no way in hell O’Whackjob wins an “R” primary versus Castle.
I’d say Carney’s fundraising numbers are decent but not spectacular. Of course, he might not need much since he’s not facing any competition right now except in the Democratic primary. Has anyone looked up Scott Spencer’s numbers?
I’m confident that there will be a credible Democratic candidate for Senate, no matter what are the circumstances on the GOP side. Democrats are an ambitious lot, and have never let the GOP have a free pass at Senate, at least not in the last 70 years.
The Dems have repeatedly failed to put up a serious candidate against Castle for the house seat.
I am sure there will be plenty of money for the Dem candidate for senate, and I amd sure you will all pronounce him/her “credible”.
Okay. I’ll bite.
The Dems have repeatedly failed to put up a serious candidate against Castle for the house seat.
True.
I am sure there will be plenty of money for the Dem candidate for senate,
True.
and I am sure you will all pronounce him/her “credible”.
Provided the are “credible”.
“Carney’s fundraising numbers are decent but not spectacular”
Quarter-million bucks in 10 weeks by non-incumbent during recession. Very impressive.
Denn will not run for the Senate, at least not until the boys are out of school. Can’t comment on Coons since I really don’t know much about him except he lives above the canal.
Please tell me which non-credible candidate we have ever called credible? I’ll grant you that there have been credible candidates that we have called incredible, but not the other.