Mike Castle Won't Rule Out Write-In Bid For Senate In Delaware

(AP) - Delaware Congressman Mike Castle says he's stunned by his Senate primary loss to Christine O'Donnell and isn't ruling out the possibility of a write-in campaign.

According to The News Journal of Wilmington, the Republican told reporters Wednesday that he probably would not run, but has not ruled it out.

Tea party darling Christine O'Donnell upset Castle in the Sept. 14 primary to snag the Republican nomination in the race to fill the Senate seat once held by Vice President Joe Biden.

Castle has until Sept. 30 to declare his candidacy in writing at the state election office for his votes to be counted.

Castle says he "will consider it right up until the final moment" but that he's "not headed in that direction right now."

Comments

[GoodRead]

06:37 PM on 09/25/2010

When your constituents vote you out, say the hell with them, I know better; I know what is best.

When the two party electoral system and party rules do not work in your favor, go around them. Follow the rules only when they work in your favor.

Why go through the expense of a primary at all?

[Dave Harpe]

03:08 PM on 09/24/2010

Watch Colbert try to make Castle say Obama is not American and is like Hitler. It's hilarious.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/256578/november-23-2009/exclusive---outtakes---better-know-a-district---mike-castle
Anyway, let's hope Castle runs and splits the Republican vote.

[buckfushlv]

10:53 AM on 09/24/2010

the rethugs blinked --did not denounce the bagggers once they showed the what they are made of
and about.the repugs are being consumed by their own arrogance.

these bageers are like the epidermic of bed bug parasites---only the baggers can do real damage

[drwtsn]

11:13 PM on 09/23/2010

As I've said before: elections have consequences, unless you're a Republican.

[Computer Geek]

06:08 PM on 09/23/2010

Hell, I'll put up 5 bucks to see him run. The best way to make sure the Dem wins the seat is to split the Republican vote between the 2 of them. I might even give 10 bucks to him for his campaign and run...

[Duppy]

05:30 PM on 09/23/2010

Go Mike. I am rooting for you !

[missdboat]

10:14 AM on 09/24/2010

me too!!

[Hysterian68]

05:12 PM on 09/23/2010

Mike please run as an independent Republican. You get the votes. If not from Delaware, then voters in New Jersey and Pennsylvania can provide you with the margin of victory.

They're accustomed to voting often and wherever they're needed.

[larmarch5]

05:53 PM on 09/23/2010

So that's how ChOd got those votes, from the Jersey Shore twinks.

[malibugimp]

05:12 PM on 09/23/2010

Great! Now everybody will know he's nothing but a whiner and sore loser. As they continue to discover how much Christine O'Donnell doesn't need to be representing anyone, both their fates will be sealed with his one decision. One shot, two kills. Nice work.

[ScreenName05]

04:51 PM on 09/23/2010

Every day in every way the GOP proves that if it doesn't tear itself apart this year it will next year.

[jerrde]

04:40 PM on 09/23/2010

castle still in shock give him a few more days

[mwilbur137]

03:47 PM on 09/23/2010

Another one running as a write in....?

Perhaps they're sore losers?
Or perhaps that allowing their Frankenstein's Monster to win is a losing strategy in the long run.

[ScreenName05]

04:52 PM on 09/23/2010

The new Republican party - where actual conservatives have to run as write-ins because the far right tea party won't allow anyone else in their tent.

[billstewart]

05:28 PM on 09/23/2010

Castle's not a conservative - he's a fairly moderate to liberal Republican.

And the article doesn't say he IS running as a write-in, it says he hasn't ruled it out, so he's basically being polite to the person asking the question. If he does run, it's unlikely to be because he's a sore loser - staying off the ballot and letting O'Donnell get stomped would do that. (538's latest polls show 99% likely Coons winning, percentages currently 55-42.) If he does run, it would be because the Republican Party really wants him to so they've got a chance of winning.

[zest]

03:38 PM on 09/23/2010

If Castle does atleast as well as O'Donnell it will knock some of the shine off Palin.

[TechYes]

04:01 PM on 09/23/2010

I'd pay good money to see that.

[zest]

03:35 PM on 09/23/2010

Wow, that makes three GOP senate races with unaffiliated canidates in contention; surely unintended consequences.

[billstewart]

04:08 PM on 09/23/2010

It's an election - you don't get to pick the consequences unless you're the candidate's brother and in charge of counting the votes.

The Republicans don't like the consequences of Tea Party people actually winning primaries; just because Rove wants those crazies to show up and vote Republican doesn't mean he actually wanted them to WIN anything.

[davidpkronmiller]

03:34 PM on 09/23/2010

And the tea party keeps spilling the tea. Hope Castle runs - it'll make for interesting drama - oh and will definitely make it possible for the democrat to win.

[taddles]

03:38 PM on 09/23/2010

Democrat Coons is already well in the lead, Castle would pull more votes from him than from O'Donnell.

[TechYes]

03:42 PM on 09/23/2010

Castle would pull more votes from O'Donnell than from Coons. Most republicans in Delaware are moderates, not TPers, and 70% of them didn't come out to vote in the primary. Given the edge in registered Democrats over registered republicans, any split in the republican vote is an advantage for the Democrat.

[sdmcmla]

03:43 PM on 09/23/2010

Exactly. 

And fanned.

[Quentinocama]

03:33 PM on 09/23/2010

Wow, that would be interesting. I think Lisa and Mike have very different circumstances. I really believe Delaware voters will give Mike a decent chance of pulling off the biggest comeback ever

[TechYes]

03:38 PM on 09/23/2010

He'd certainly split the republican vote, and that would give a HUGE advantage to the Democrat, Chris Coons. Coons is already leading O'Donnell by 15 points, and the percentage of "certain" voters is very high - 91% for Coons, 85% for O'Donnell.

[billstewart]

04:10 PM on 09/23/2010

A lot of those Coons voters are moderate Republicans, though.