Chris Bullock vs. Mike Castle What if?
Say Reverend Christopher Bullock runs against Mike Castle as is being suggested by some commenter’s – how does this race shake out.
Bullock has made his living speaking and by all reports he is a great speaker. The issue that this campaign will turn on is “can we trust Mike Castle” so he clearly has that big advantage going in. He’ll have to prove that he can raise money (both here in Delaware and with the DCCC, ActBlue and other online activist sites). And here is a big one in my mind, Bullock will have to get REAL support from Biden and Carper. Not the chump change and occasion kind word they gave to Spivack. If Bullock ends up running against Carper and Castle – as Spivack was forced to do – then his chances go way down.
……………………..
Mike Castle is clearly a doddering and frail old man. His has lost more than a step and political instincts have dried up over the past few years as he has struggled to maintain the appearance of being a moderate while supporting George Bush.
His strategy will be to try and lay low and run out the clock. If he allows voters to get a good look at him and slips up and lets Bullock go head to head with him in a debate it would mean trouble. A big messy primary on the Democratic side helps Castle by allowing him to avoid dealing with Bullock head to head.
Nevertheless, the power of incumbency is strong and Castle (whith all the pork he rakes in) looks great to Democrats who don’t pay much attention to his voting record but rely on the News Journal for information.
Bottom Line: By sticking with Bush on Iraq, Castle has not done himself any favors since beating Spivack with 57%. Will people notice?
I will be surprised if Castle runs in 08. I will also be surprised if he withdraws before the primary. When will our legislators move the primary to the spring where it belongs? This September primary is great for the incumbents but it plays merry hell with democracy in Delaware.
“Mike Castle is clearly a doddering and frail old man.”
I think a real question can be raised that the real reason we don’t see him in public settings and instead we hear of him resisting meeting w/ his constituents is because he doesn’t look well; pale & frail is the word.
Can any objective reporter tell is how is health is. I hope he is OK.
Oh, and don’t give me that argument about the G.A. is in session and it makes it hard to campaign. There aren’t that many primaries in this state as a rule and they are usually for open seats. It’s rare when an incumbent gets primaried. If that should happen, we’ve seen that Senator Vaughn was unable to attend a single session in 2007 but the Senate managed to struggle along without him. And, there’s always that long recess for the JFC/Budget Committees to do their thing. The primary could be held in March right after the recess.
Dana,
Castle’s health is a lot better than the health of the people standing way too close to the IEDs in the past years.
What happens when Karen Hartley-Nagle primaries Bullock solely on the fact that he was a Republican until last year?
Hartley-Nagle is going to primary anybody, regardless of previous accomplishments or confusions. It’s what she does. Dave, you’ve got Protack and we’ve got Hartley-Nagle. It’s called democracy. Messy.
I’d say Karen’s just as qualified as Bullock to run, Rebecca. Are the Progressive Dems already in anointing mode this early? Look what you got with Dennis Spivack — an unhinged nut.
Look what you got with Dennis Spivack — an unhinged nut.
Evidence please. And you are not allowed to quote yourself or Dana.
Ummmm evidence? Did you read either Dana’s or my reporting last year? Evidence? Check out some of the YouTube videos I recorded. Then go stuff your tail between your legs.
Get over yourself. Not only did I read your and Dana’s stories, I was also AT at least one of those events in person so I am able to compare your reporting with reality, and I find it wanting.
I didn’t leave that event with the impression of “crazy.” I was surprised to hear you pick that up the next day.
Spivack seemed a bit cranky and unpolished at first, but he certainly gained better control of his tone in later events.
Public speaking isn’t that easy. It’s hard to master the art of defending yourself and pointing out negatives on your opponent without coming off harshly yourself.
The tag of “crazy” comes only from some kind of bizzare pact between you and Dana. To cite yourself is circular reasoning.
I don’t know Spivack at all, so I am open to the possibility that he is too cranky to be a politician. But I need better evidence.
Mike, I do not speak for Progressive Dems when I blog.
In fact, PDD will elect an Endorsement Committee in December and they will decide who deserves our support and announce it by June of next year. I disqualify myself from the process since I’m such a screaming party partisan.
In the meantime, I’m just mouthing off. Ya know, free speech and all that.
Go easy on Dennis — at least he had the chutzpah to try and ya gotta admire that. He worked like crazy. A statewide campaign is not something for the faint of heart. It takes amazing stamina and dedication, 7-days-a-week-16-hours-a-day. I wouldn’t do it, but Dennis did.
And it takes a lot of money! Spivack spent like 200 thousand and HArtley-Nagle spent 400. He got 60 percent and she got 40. Those of you who think she isn’t viable are deluding yourselves. Those who think she’s a spoiler are already deluded.
Mike, 40% of a primary…? Anyway, I get it. It is KHN for you. Peace. Can we get to work on Castle and not beat Spivack up (again) in the process?
Spivack vs. KHN – 60/40
Castle – 56%
On a high level these numbers tell you Delaware is hungry for more and better choices in elections. DelDems in particular should pay attention and let the primary process play out as democratically as possible.
I’d say it’s still rather impressive, Jason. Spivack will be a punchline and asterisk in Delaware politics for years. Does he have another beach house to mortgage?
As for miles north, I’m really sorry I don’t have the luxury of a pseudonym.
So “no” then..?
This is going to be beautiful. You Dems are like a sports team that did better than expected and instead of working in the off-season, you are resting on last years results.
Let’s see how your 14% favorable approval rating Congress does in ’08. With Hillary as your candidate there are at least eight congressional seats that are considered give backs, because they all squeaked in on an anti-Bush vote. Given he’s not on the ticket, the same districts all hold high negatives on Hillary, meaning Rookies are one and out.
I wish we were getting money to build a new bridge this year, because all the unwarranted confidence is going to put you all in need of one. ( because I care…here’s a way to get in touch with the Good Samarinas http://www.delawarehelpline.org/helpline/controller?JSPName=PROGRAMDETAIL&frmProgId=DHLP0624AA )
Bash, Bash, Bash and offer nothing…I love it. You’re in for a rude awakening.
If you’re serious about wanting the seat, you better find good people with good inspiring messages, and you might actually have a shot.
Vote for Hartley-Nagle. She is better than Spivack!
Do I have that right?
Dear Diary,
Today “J” made some sense.
Thank you Jason…if it’s an online diary, hit Control “V” everyday. (LOL)
I personally hope there is a primary and I expect there will be one. KHN will be in, maybe Spivack (last word is he is waiting on the OK from his wife),and I heard today that another Dem (name not disclosed yet) will jump in as well. I wouldn’t be surprised (this will be a shocker) if Chris Coons jumps into the fray. I’m glad about this for three reasons:
1. Primaries are good for voters. I happen to know that is Bullock’s view as well.
2. Primaries give the eventual nominee prior publicity and create name recognition needed for the general election.
3. The fact that many want to jump into the fray show one undeniable fact: Castle is vulnerable now in a way he never has been before. One reason has to do w/ the “R” word. The USA is a mess and it happened during the 6 years that the R’s were in charge. The other is health which is a real concern. He’s getting up there and there were those 2 strokes. One doesn’t get healthier after strokes. At best one stabilizes for a while until the problems set in once more. We all know it to be true.
I hope my fellow Dems won’t lament a primary but embrace it…& will be truly democratic. There is no long-term future for any party that doesn’t embrace the resurgence of democratic participation that will occur over the next decades, thanks principally to the internet.
Amen, Dana…Primaries ARE a good thing, as Martha would say. Now we just need to get the General Assembly to move them up a couple of months!
You ready for that fight next year, my friend? I think I’ll shoot Madame Helene a letter…