Castle Is Optimistic
Republican National Committeewoman Priscilla Rakestraw, who has been working the phones on Castle’s behalf, and who spoke to 300 potential voters at the Academy of Lifelong Learning Thursday, said she believed O’Donnell’s momentum has sputtered over the past few days due to the heightened scrutiny surrounding her record.
“The phones this afternoon and tonight, were totally different. People were much more willing to talk and much more forthcoming. Democrats were even asking how they could help, and I told them to call their Republican friends,” Rakestraw said late Monday, predicting an 8-point victory for Castle. “The mood seems different.”
Even the Delaware GOP thinks the race will be in single digits under the best case scenario.
He projected that if turnout draws 30 percent of the state’s 180,000 registered Republicans, the former two-term governor and nine-term congressman would win by 8 to 12 percentage points. If turnout just breaks 20 percent, he believes Castle’s margin will shrink to 4 to 6 points, but said he would survive.
“Watch the early returns from the districts surrounding the city of Wilmington but not in it — that’s the key to [the] whole mess,” Mell told POLITICO.
Castle is relying on New Castle County to carry him to victory. We’ll all be watching!
Tags: DE-Sen, Mike Castle
Interesting, and likely true. Here is the NJ with a recent article claiming the opposite:
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100914/NEWS02/100914035/O+Donnell+confident+as+she+greets+primary+voters
I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I’m at a complete loss. I’m also conflicted.
If Castle wins the tea party gets the spanking they deserve, and while their heads are exploding everyone else will move on.
If O’Donnell wins they’ll have to wait until November for their spanking, but until then there will be endless entertainment.
I kinda want the entertainment. Does that make me a bad person?
I expect Castle to win, but by a small margin. Having said that the damage is done, the Tea Party will haul out the sour grapes and not vote for Mike Castle. Go Chris Coons, this is your opportunity, courtesy of the Tea Party.
In an interview yesterday Christine said she has a secret weapon: the Hilary Clnton PUMA democrats
No Pandora, I’m also hoping for the COD win for the entertainment value only 🙂
They will keep the positive spin going until polls close, but those close to the party are preparing for the worst….
The problem is that anything can happen between now and November. As entertaining as it might be, an O’Donnell wins puts her one step closer to the Senate and if something like a major scandal were to happen to Coons, well, who knows?
Also, if you want to see O’Donnell on talk shows and doing speaking tours a la Palin, then hope that she wins. She is going to milk her new found fame (notoriety) for all that it is worth ($$). Winning the nomination would only heighten her credibility in the already fawning right-wing media.
Personally and unfortunately, I think that Castle will beat Coons if Castle wins the nomination, but I’d rather see that than have O’Donnell win the nomination and even have a remote chance at the Senate seat.
Remember, at the time she started running, no one really gave Palin a serious chance to win the governorship of Alaska. Don’t underestimate the power of a pretty face in front of a small mind.
A1, I hear you, but coming from someone who is always getting on the current president for not being liberal enough (and not that you don’t have a point sometimes), I find it interesting that you’d almost prefer Castle over the chance of Coons winning.
Screw-it. Let’s see a throwdown statewide. COD’s brand of crazy vs. my brand of sane 🙂
I found that a little odd as well, Mark. Coons’ best chance is against O’Donnell.
From UI’s piece:
““Watch the early returns from the districts surrounding the city of Wilmington but not in it — that’s the key to [the] whole mess,” Mell told POLITICO.”
It’s the key ONLY in the sense that, if the R’s don’t get a 30% turnout there, Castle is toast. That’s his champagne and caviar.
I just don’t want O’Donnell any closer to the Senate than she is today. Though I agree that Coons has the best chance against O’Donnell; I don’t want to risk the small chance that O’Donnell could win. Castle in the Senate is bad enough. O’Donnell in the Senate would be a disaster.
So, to clarify, I prefer a Castle win over O’Donnell even if it makes Coons less likely to win in November only because O’Donnell and her constituency need to be kept as far from the levers of power as possible.
Don’t think that is is impossible for her to win in November. That’s all.
There are very few “early returns” in Delaware elections. It’s unusual if all the results aren’t in by 9 p.m.
“Castle in the Senate is bad enough. O’Donnell in the Senate would be a disaster.”
Your dumbest comment yet, which is saying something. One senator makes little difference in the vast scheme of things, especially as this seat is expected to go Republican anyway. Meanwhile, her incompetence would serve to discredit the idea of the citizen politician in ways that even Sharron Angle couldn’t touch. You are a stone cold political moron.
Really, it is bad enough to have Bachman and Palin sucking up the media oxygen in the room. You want to risk adding O’Donnell to the right wing media circus? I don’t.
By the way, “her incompetence” has put her on the verge of ending the career of one of Delaware’s most popular politicians. If you count her out, you risk the same result as when Alaska’s political chattering class counted out Palin.
Chatter on, geezer.
So Castle is declaring victory already by inviting supporters to his victory party this evening?
I feel like I’m watching the Cowboys playing the Giants… I’m only rooting for injuries.
I do too, LG. Does that make me a bad person? Don’t answer that, it’s merely rhetorical.
Analogy win!
“Don’t think that is is impossible for her to win in November”
And you know, you might be right, because who thought we’d be having this conversation today? Still, with the D edge in the Senate shrinking, I’d rather have a better shot of keeping this Senate seat D rather than just give it to Castle. Although I think Castle has been wounded in this primary, I still think he beats Coons unless Christine runs a write-in campaign.
But I have at least a 50% chance of being wrong 🙂
I’m with you lg.
Whatever to the two of you (‘Geek and El Som). Is it time to crack some open or raise some glasses yet?
I feel like I’m watching the Cowboys playing the Giants… I’m only rooting for injuries.
Tweet that. It’s brilliant.