John Carney-mania Hits the National Blogs
First Politico now this MYDD mention…
House 2010: Dems May Have Strong Challenger for Castle in DE
Josh Kraushaar, reporting on the developments that may lead to Beau Biden becoming the next Senator from Delaware, makes what seems from this vantage an even more important catch: The Democrats may finally have a viable challenger for Republican Congressman Mike Castle.
[Beau Biden’s] biggest rival for the Democratic nomination, former Delaware lieutenant governor John Carney, appears to instead be looking at the state’s House race against Republican congressman Mike Castle.
“It’s been difficult to get people to step up to the plate and run against Congressman Castle. I’ve got to tell you, that’s something I’m looking at right now,” Carney told a Delaware radio station earlier this week.
Carney was passed over for the Delaware Senate appointment in favor of longtime Biden adviser Ted Kaufman, who is only holding the seat before the special election occurs in two years.
After winning his first term in the House back in 1992 by a 55 percent to 43 percent margin, Castle has never won by fewer than 18 points, with no Democrat even crossing the 40 percent threshold. But with John Carney potentially in this race — probably the strongest opponent Castle has ever faced, including his successful runs for Governor in the 1980s — Castle’s path to reelection is far from assured. Throw on top the fact that the Obama-Biden ticket received 62 percent of the vote in the state last November, and all of the sudden this could be a real contest.
——————————————————————–
This attention demostrates how easily a top tier challenger could raise money to knock off Mike Castle.
As a commenter points out in the MyDD comments, Delaeware has no business being represented in Congress by an “R”
Fewer than ten House Republicans now represent districts with a partisan voting index in the D range:
http://www.swingstateproject.com/showDia ry.do?diaryId=3882
Castle’s is the most Democratic (D+6.5). That’s the old PVI–the PVIs for all the districts haven’t been recalculated since the 2008 election.
This is a Dem pickup in two years. Book it, stamp it, shrink wrap it and store it on a shelf.
OK, I’m running.
You got my vote.
I think it is definitely a D pickup. I am glad that the national party is starting to look at this now so that they can start throwing a lot of resources into the race. I wonder if KHN is going to challenge Carney?
“radio station”
I guess they didn’t want to say Internet radio 🙂 to make it sound credible
I can’t fathom why these stories leave out the fact that Carney was reponding to a question from a caller named Donhusseinsquishviti.
Carney is a better choice for the Senate than Beau and he’s done more to earn the right to run than Beau. I do not want Joe’s intentions for Beau to be a foregone conclusion. Anyone can beat Beau up for what he’s not accomplishing in his current seat as AG…and they will definitely work him over. Let Beau earn the right to run for higher office by proving he is a public servant and not just the son of the VP.
lol…you spelled it right. you must have cut and pasted it
Frankly, I think Joe set in to motion the Carney run against Castle. On return day, from the pictures I saw, those two were attached at the hip. I’m thinking Joe started preaching the many, many virtues of having the support of the VP for not only a Senate race, but a House race as well.
If any federally funded stimulus package brings significant union support (i.e. jobs) to DE and is structured to give little recognition to Repub’s, the Dem hierarchy here will be able to continue their love affair with Carney and provide them a likely walk in to the House.
Similarly, if the economy has begun to improve and support for Obama continues, Castle and the R’s likely alternative candidate, Levin might both step aside to avoid defeat.
One thing’s for sure, it should be interesting.
I don’t mind Carney running as long as he
1. wins
2. gets his ass in gear and does more then he has done as Lt. Gov.
3. is less boring (he honestly reminds me of a sleeping pill)
4. shows me – until the elections – that he is the best choice and WHY he is the best choice.
I give him the same challenge that I gave him for the gubernatorial run — CONVINCE ME!
…then again, who cares about little me.
p.s OK OK, even if he does not convince me, I’d vote for him over Castle any day
of course it’s a D pick up…Castle will win the US Senate seat, and Beau and Carney can fight to see what happens to the US House seat.
Wake up…
Carney pussied out by not running against Castle in november.
I agree that is likely especially when Castle takes the Senate seat.
David says,
“I agree that is likely especially when Castle takes the Senate seat.”
Yeah, good look with that….. NOT!
Tyler Nixon for Senate!