Today we find out if Beau Biden has an opponent for reelection. The general consensus is that the GOP will let Biden be reelected unopposed. Republicans have been both mocked and praised for this move.
Praised because the GOP, for all their talk about how unpopular Obama and Biden are, fears the President and Vice President’s presence in the state, and presumably a challenge to Beau will bring them and more Democratic money, which will in turn spike Democratic turnout (for the only way Republicans can win is to depress Democratic turnout). So no opponent for Beau, no Obama-Biden or big time Dem money, no excitement or turnout on the Democratic side = wins by Rollins and Castle and the possibility of taking back the State House.
Mocked because, in a democracy where you are one of the two major parties, to allow a major elected position to be unchallenged is the ultimate sign of weakness. It happens to the Democrats too. Both parties leave county council seats and General Assembly seats unchallenged for strategic reasons. I personally hate it because it denies voters a choice. Thus, Republicans should be mocked for denying a choice to voters. They should also be mocked for strengthening their supposed enemy, not that I mind all that much. A reelected Beau Biden is a stronger Beau Biden. By 2014, a term term incumbent Attorney General should be a formidable candidate for the U.S. Senate (if Castle wins this year and then, as promised, retires), or for the Lt. Governorship or Governorship in 2016. The GOP may well regret this move, especially if O’Donnell and Urquhart win the primaries, as they will be left with Tom Wagner being the only winning statewide GOP candidate again.
We will also find out today if the Dems field a candidate in the 19th Senate District. Rumor has it that Lynn Rogers will run if St. Bodie Girl wins. I can confirm that Sussex County Democrats will be making a push to take over the County Council. Dennis Cordrey is mounting a campaign to knock off Glenn Urquhart employee Vance Phillips, and now, with one more seat to take over the Council, it looks like they have recruited Dagsboro resident Russ Melrath to take on 4th District Council member George Cole. Melrath is a retired State Farm insurance agent who has been active in Sussex County politics since he moved there ten years ago. Melrath faces long odds to win the seat, but by him running, he and the Democrats have offered the people of Sussex County a choice.