A sure sign that Castle is worried about a Christine O’Donnell challenge is today’s “I’ve got lots of money” story that Wenk got planted in the WNJ.
Elizabeth Wenk lays down her ebenezer, is surprisingly unguarded in her comments to Nicole Gaudiano and is clearly trying to send a message to would be conservative challengers.
“He’s getting prepared for any type of race that may come at him,” Wenk said.
Elizabeth Wenk knows that Castle might be more vulnerable in a primary than a general election for three reasons.
1) In a Republican primary highly energized single issue voters could swamp and out hustle the out of touch and lazy party regulars.
2) Castle will not have the sleepwalking Democratic ticket splitters that he depends on to absent-mindedly pull the lever. And finally…
3) Castle’s primary opponent will be running against Castle only. Not against Castle, Tom Carper and Joe Biden simultaneously. I think the last election shows that anyone running against Castle is also running against the “Tripod” of Delaware politics. The incumbent party views a challenge to any of its members as a challenge to itself and reacts accordingly.
The Bottom Line: Castle did not even talk about elections until two months before November last time out. Now he is hiring a new D.C.-based fundraiser as well as general campaign consultants for strategic advice 20 months out. Hmmm…???
He is freaking, and should be.