Spivack makes the right call
UPDATE: Read DelDem’s take on Spivack here.
As much as I like him, bowing out is the right thing to do.
“I want to run, but I don’t think I can run if I don’t get the backing of the DCCC. I don’t have any other personal funds that I can put into the campaign. I wouldn’t want to run at half speed. You can only beat someone like the current congressman if you can run full time. I can’t rebuild my [law] practice and campaign full time and make it work,” Spivack said Friday.
Who ever ends up running against Castle owes Spivack a debt of gratitude for showing that “Mr. 70%” is beatable.
Jason – linkee please? From Cohen?
I just did a post on Spivak this morning based on the DE Grapevine post on Friday.
Jason, I do not read this as a withdrawal, but rather a ultimatum to the DCCC.
kick ass blog post DE DEM!
I have to figure out how to comment over there
/techie -NOT
Nancy, all you have to do is create an account in the upper right hand column on the page. You will receive an email with a password. And then once you log in, you will be able to comment and/or post your own diaries.
Let me if you are having trouble, and I will create an account for you and email you your username and password.
DelDem –
Maybe he is giving me an inch and I am taking a mile.
BTW – Daily Delaware looks great. I’ll put up a post in it tomorrow.
I basically agree, he is almost out the door. His lack of funds for this race and the funds he spent for his last race has been a constant refrain from Spivack and/or his representatives during the past month.
He seems to be saying that if he is not funded fully by the DCCC, he will not run.
And the DCCC in turn looks to him and says, if you cannot generate excitement and fundraising yourself, why should we bother?
I think DCCC needs to have a heart-to-heart with Biden and Carper about the Delaware Congressional race.
You got that right. If Carper is going to support Castle again he needs to pay some sort of price.
If Carper does not enthusiatically support and campaign for our Democratic nominee, then he will be primaried in 2012. It is his responsibility as a leader in our state party to fight for Democratic candidates and against Republican candidates.
If skirks that responsibility, we will retire him.
“It is his responsibility as a leader in our state party to fight for Democratic candidates and against Republican candidates.”
Gee…I have been told around here that it shouldn’t be about putting the party first. Guess I was misinformed.
If Carper does not enthusiatically support and campaign for our Democratic nominee, then he will be primaried in 2012.
I’m not sure this is such an effective threat for Carper. Worst case for him is he is slightly weakened in the primary by a longshot challenger and retires on schedule in 2018.
I’d rather see Senate leadership start putting Carper’s bills in the deep freeze (yes, all those tariff suspensions), and yanking Carper’s ass off committees. I won’t shed any tears if Tom Carper no longer chairs the Banking subcommittee.
Adding a few more Dems to the Senate will give Senate leadership the room to take these kind of actions.
Oh, and the Senate gets to elect a new leader in 09 too, so who knows.
You guys kill me. IN one breath you blabber about how beatable Mike Castle is. IN the next you’re whining about Tom Carper getting along with him, as if anyone in Delaware gave a rat’s ass who Tom Carper wants them to vote for. Here’s a clue for you all: Try to convince someone with an actual political future to take on Castle. Matt Denn. Chris Coons (though his shot at a political future is waning fast). Carney or Markell. None of them are interested, right? But that tells you folks nothing about political reality on the ground, right?
Nobody “with a future” is willing to risk that future by challenging Castle and possibly losing, and incurring the wrath of DIP pols on both sides of the aisle. The Dem game for the House seat is to wait for it to be open, then walk in without a fight.
I’m not saying this is right – it isn’t – but that’s how the game is being played.
Carper can’t campaign with a Dem House candidate and say “Please send this Dem to the House to help me pass the Democratic agenda” – because Carper doesn’t HAVE a Democratic agenda.
because Carper doesn’t HAVE a Democratic agenda.
*
heh
so true, so true