Castle will test waters with poll - considering "write in" candidacy (Politico)

[jefferson_dem]

Castle will test waters with poll
By: David Catanese
September 23, 2010 06:50 PM EDT

Rep. Mike Castle is planning on polling a potential three-way Senate race to test his chances as a write-in candidate, a Delaware Republican tells POLITICO.

Castle, who lost his GOP primary by a 6-point margin to tea party upstart Christine O’Donnell nine days ago, opened the door to a potential write-in bid Wednesday evening when he told reporters off the House floor it was still a possibility he was considering.

The GOP source did not have specifics on when Castle’s team would conduct the poll, but viewed it as a practical step even if the nine-term congressman was unlikely to re-enter the race.

A spokeswoman for Castle, who put the chances of him running as a write-in “under 5 percent,” said her boss likely wouldn’t settle on a final decision before next week. According to the state Elections Commission, Castle would have to complete a form by next Thursday to officially qualify as a write-in candidate.

Said Castle spokeswoman Kate Dickens: “A lot of encouragement has come in, nice calls from people in Delaware who want an independent voice.”

Dickens, who would not confirm a plan to poll, said Castle has mostly been focused on House business, but has taken calls from those urging him to pursue a bid without a party banner.
Delaware GOP National Committeewoman Priscilla Rakestraw said she has fielded dozens of calls over the last 48 hours, mostly from Democrats, about a potential Castle write-in campaign.

“They want to organize a write-in campaign. I’m stunned. Obviously, they don’t like their option of voting for Chris Coons. I pass them along to Mike Castle’s organization. I think they are waiting for a nod from Castle,” Rakestraw said.

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http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=40C9C965-0DCC-288D-E855289B50068F2F

[Arkana]

1. Jesus Christ.

If he does this, O'Donnell will win.

[bigdarryl]

4. how's that the rethugs will be split especially the ones that think O'Donnell is to extreme

[Unvanguard]

6. No, she won't. Coons probably will still.

Castle might sweep the moderates, but there are more Democrats than Republicans in Delaware.

[LynneSin]

10. But there are alot of Independents in DE and he appeals to moderate dems too

this is not a good thing!

[jobycom]

2. Bad idea. Republicans can't write. nt

[tridim]

3. Watch out for "fuzzy math" results in the poll.

A fake poll, and full MSM support could easily swing the advantage back to the pukes.

[bluestateguy]

5. I'd rather he didn't

In this scenario he actually takes votes from Coons not Palin Jr.

[Bitwit1234]

7. That will really make sure they don't get the seat

[LynneSin]

11. Unfortunately he won't take from O'Donnell voters

:cry:

[treestar]

22. Would Castle have a shot at actually winning?

I'd almost be tempted to vote for him to keep O'Donnell out, depending on how close it was.

[Dawson Leery]

8. This won't end well.

[LynneSin]

9. Great he splits the votes from Chris Coons and we're stuck with O'Donnell as a senator

Because the people who vote for O'Donnell will stick with her.

The people who would vote for Castle are looking to Coons as their candidate simply because they want someone sane.

If Castle runs, O'Donnell could suddenly become competitive.

[KingFlorez]

12. He'd rather have a Republican in the seat than a Democrat

He knows who he would pull votes from. No matter what O'Donnell said about him during the primary, I think he'd rather see her in the seat than Coons. He is a Republican after all, they aren't going to completely throw their own under the bus.

[Dawson Leery]

13. If he goes through with it, then yes.

[fugop]

14. I'm not so sure

This doesn't really make sense. If he wanted her in the seat, he'd just endorse her, which he refused to do. Frankly, he oughta let the Dem take it and then challenge him next time. Although I guess he's not so young, so maybe this is his last shot at it.

[JI7]

16. she has no chance of winning even if he endorses her but if he gets into the race

there might be a chance of him taking enough from coons to allow him or her to win.

it's hard to say what would happen. but we know it's not just her that he would take votes from.

[proud patriot]

15. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee !

:-)

[golfguru]

17. Castle will drain many of Coons's votes

and O'Donnell becomes senator O'Donnell. Ugh!

[applegrove]

18. Go for it!

:applause:

[scheming daemons]

19. This will be bad for us... and could result in O'Donnell actually winning

She's going to get the 40% of the vote that are whackadoodles.


If Castle runs, almost all the votes he pulls in will come from Coons.



Coons' 15-point lead disappears if Castle runs.



I'm hoping he stays the hell out of the race.

[Cha]

20. Like Lisa? Saw what's happening in

Alaska?

[Drunken Irishman]

21. Those who are freaking out, don't...

For starters, read the damn article. His spokeswoman says the chance of him running as a write-in is under 5%. That means there is a 96% chance he doesn't run, at worst.

He ain't gonna run.

Even if he did, it's not going to change the race. Do you know how difficult it is to win as a write-in? How difficult it is to even gain a good amount of votes?

It's not easy. Especially this late in the game. I'd be shocked if he pulls in 10% if he DOES run and I doubt that'll tilt this race in favor of O'Donnell.

Calm down, folks.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. People Need To Think Things Through

It was O'Donnell who prevented Castle from getting what he thought was rightfully his. Why would he run as a third party candidate and help her given the fact that third party candidates always hurt the major party candidate closest to them ideologically.

It's the same thinking that leads Crist to run in FL.