The Tease.
So Mike Castle is telling Celia Cohen and Roll Call that if he is going to run for an elected office in 2010, he is “leaning more toward running for Senate rather than another term in the House, if he decides to run for Congress again in 2010.” He also reveals that he is getting pressure from the likes of John McCain and George H.W. Bush to move up.
For once, I think Castle is being completely truthful here. I think he has decided not to run for reelection, whether or not Carney forced his hand in making that decision I am not sure we will ever know. So right now he is trying to decide between the Senate and life on Bethany Beach. And again, we have to return to one of the only barometers that mean anything in these races: money. He is not raising any. So that tells us that he is intending to retire. But will he be talked into changing his mind? I think the only way du Pont, Bush and McCain are going to change his mind is to promise a lot of fundraising, and from the looks of things, Castle will need it.
I think if Castle runs, the money is a given. The question is, does Castle have fire in the belly for campaign that is well-funded on both sides. A campaign that will require Castle to do more than record radio spots and talk on pre-screened conference calls.
The decider is Carper. The decider has decided that Castle is not running.
Take that to the BANK!
Logically, it just doesn’t make much sense to me that Castle would run for Senate. He’ll be 72 years old, starting out as a rookie in the Senate minority. Plus, he would have to run a race against a well-funded opponent. The only thing that argues in favor of him running is probably that he’s getting enormous pressure to run, considering he’s the only GOPer on the shallow bench.
I just don’t see it. His 1Q fundraising totals do not look like someone gearing up for a Senate race.
On top of that, what will he have won? The right to vote the GOP party line and every vote between now and the next stroke. Whoopie!
Here is Castle’s play. He talks up this race for a few months in order to be seen to be passing the baton to a younger – more energetic campaigner like ….wait for it…….Copeland.
Then he says, I’m hitting the rocker. Call me when Pete DuPont croaks and I’ll play the elder statesman at your Vicmead tea party.
I think Copeland will go for House, but you may be right Copeland would have a better shot against Beau Biden than against John Carney. Who goes up against Carney, then?
Am I the only one that found the mention of tease, Castle and Cohen in one post to be a bit icky?
“I think the only way du Pont, Bush and McCain are going to change his mind is to promise a lot of fundraising, and from the looks of things, Castle will need it.”
What, to fight off Beau Biden? I don’t think so. I think the kid gets his head handed to him.
Castle, Copeland, Carney, Carper, or the Biden ruling family.
If none of these people deserve your vote. it does not matter who runs.
Biden will be able to raise a lot of money.