Mike Castle’s financial report confirms what we all know. Mike Castle’s heart is not in a Senate run and while he claims that the fundraising will come if he decides to run – that easy going attitude is yet another tell. He has spent the past year burning something that is as valuable in politics as money…time. And even today he is ostentatiously not campaigning. Why?
He has had a clear field and could have frozen Biden out while raising money if he had indicated that he wanted to run. Biden can’t make a move until at least September and if Castle was running he would have had free rein to frame the terms of the election and build his case without anyone challenging him. What did he do instead? Nothing.
If he now decides to run the wingnut money will certainly pour in, but Castle will not be up for the ’round the clock fundraising he will have to do to bring the the $10 million will need to have to raise to compete with Beau Biden, The Vice President of the United States and The President of the United States (not to mention the entire weight of the Democratic National Party and every labor union in the country). The last time he had to run a tough race it was enough to drive a van through town with a loudspeaker tied to the roof.
“But, but, but…the Delaware way.” I hear you thinking. The President of the United States trumps the Delaware way. Period. Nobody in Washington (not named Tom Carper) is going to countenance giving away a Senate seat. It simply will not happen.
Finally, does Mike Castle think he has the physical stamina to keep up with Beau Biden? Please.
I’m more convinced than ever. He can take the easy way or the hard way, but one way or another, Mike Castle is out of politics.