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Saturday, October 28, 2006

 

Stick a fork in Castle, he is done.

[Let me preface all of this with the acknowledgment that I still think Spivack has a chance. Given the very high distrust people have for Bush and republican rubber stampers like Michael Castle, the polls may not tell the whole story. If this turns out to be a low turnout election that leaves the middle-of-the-roaders standing on the sidelines, Spivack could win.] Having said that...

...no matter what happens on November 7th Castle's cowardly stint as congressman is nearly over.

Based on how fragile and out of it Michael Castle looked at the rotary debate, and given the fact that he is ducking these last debates, the conventional wisdom is that Castle's health is a very significant issue.

Most people I've spoken too are looking at an "open seat" race either 24 months from now or sooner. If Castle wins on the 7th it is now seems very likely that there will be a special election sometime in the next year to replace him. So the field is wide open and both Republicans and Democrats have people jockeying for position.

On the R side the word is that Rhode Island interloper John Feroce is making some people uncomfortable with his hypothetical musing. The fact that his entire campaign seemed to be directed to a statewide audience rather that the senate district that he claims to want to represent tends to support this line of thought.

Unless some backroom deal is cut, the Democrats will have a crowded field. With such a weak Republican bench many regard it as a given that whoever wins the Democratic primary for the special election will go on to Washington.

I'll have to check with Celia to see if having every statewide office (other than auditor) in Democratic hands violates some unwritten rule of Delaware poltics. Even if it does, recent events prove that unwritten rules were meant to be broken.

Comments:
Jason,

I don't foresee any special elections after Castle is re-elected on Nov. 7. I don't know what you saw, but I thought he looked just fine post-surgery. His term is only two years. He won't even be 70 by the time it's up. I do not see him running again...and that's from various sources I've heard.
 
So it is an open seat race either way - which is the thrust of the post.

He seemed frail to me (with the noteworthy exception being the moment he jumped up to say that he had "no comment' on the question of Rummy's firing), and if he makes it for a whole term I'd expect to hear very little from him.

I, for one, am glad he is done.
 
"On the R side the word is that Rhode Island interloper John Feroce is making some people uncomfortable with his hypothetical musing. The fact that his entire campaign seemed to be directed to a statewide audience rather that the senate district that he claims to want to represent tends to support this line of thought."

Here is where John Feroce advertises:

Smyrna/Clayton Suntimes (District)
Middletown Transcript (District)
Comcast Central Delaware (District)
Comcast Middletown (District)
WDOV (District)
WILM (Where Voters Work)
WDEL (Where Voters Work & district)
All Signage (750 in District)
All Literature (District)

Step back and put whatever you're smoking down. I have not seen, read or heard a John Feroce ad anywhere in Sussex County, so you need to strike all of that.
 
And there will be no "crowded field." If Castle retires, the 2008 Dem nominees will be Jack Markell for Congress and John Carney for Governor.

Why else do you think Jack Markell reportedly pulled $600,000 out of his state account?
 
Feroce has higher name recognition in Lewes than he has in Townsend.
 
How can you even say that? There's only one person in all of Lewes that knows anything about Feroce and that's me. I understand you reach from time to time, but that's not true, it's not even close to being true, and you know it. So why?
 
Jason,

It looks like your "weak bench" point stands. The Rethugs have nobody when Castle either kicks or calls it quits.
 
FSP,

A week or so ago I was ready to call this race to Feroce, but he just seems to be bypassing an important demographic - the voters.

As much as you or I or Dana care about "open goverment" - it is not such a huge concern in the district (otherwise they would not have returend Vaughn to Dover election after election?).

I think he's left the door open for Vaughn by opening the door to higher offices.
 
You've finally completely lost your mind. Feroce has been to every event in the district, every forum, knocked on thousands of doors.

Not only this, but he's done the whole thing without pointing out the fact that Jim Vaughn is on his last legs. Spivack crossed that line with Castle, who's a much healthier guy. Vaughn refuses to make any appearances or even do interviews, yet Feroce takes the high road. He deserves votes just for that.

The fact on the FOIA package is not so much that Feroce was one of those 12 people, he was THE ONE. It was his idea.
 
Jack Markell probably did it because he'll be our next senator because Joe Biden will be our next president.
 
...Jack Markell probably did it because he'll be our next senator because Joe Biden will be our next president.

And Ruth Ann Minner will be Miss Universe.
 
Markell would be a good Governor but a lousy Congressman. We could use a business-minded economic development governor who can attract investment to Delaware (like John Burris would have been but for that fat lump we elected instead).

But business minded doesnt transfer well to Congress. In fact it makes someone who can be a good governor in Delaware into a lobbyists' wet dream in Washington. Sound familiar?. With Markell this is especially true if the Dems end up in control of Congress.

Markell is too corporate aligned and shmoozy woozy with big money including his own to be anything but a Castle carbon copy who will perpetuate the corporate noose that rings the beltway like a big money border fence keeping the public out. Dont kid yourself he is some nice guy hero. He is a mystery on pretty much everything most people care about in national politics these days and for the foreseeable future.

In all truth, does anyone have a clue what Markell stands for on any of the major national issues that matter, especially to liberals or progressives? He's not exactly a working stiff in touch with the needs of the working poor.

He has long been doing exactly what Ca-stle/rper have done for centuries now....stand for nothing but bland uncontroversial non-issues and, if you do speak on the big issues that matter, give roundabout nonanswers. Funny, didn't Torturin Tom Crapper get his start as a likeable State Treasurer?

No, I won't back Jack for Congress including and especially Senate..EVER. Governor yes, though.

We got to end this incumbemt ladder climbing musical chairs game in Delaware that got us where we are today. Markell will just be the Castle or Carper of 20 years from now.

A fresh change to a credible person who is not corporate aligned or special interest allied, or wildly partisan or radically ideological would be a start. We have to look at people who stand for more than just political and money influences or being the least offensive most bland most flavorless option for voters to choke down. It is a tall order but aren't the stakes high enough for us to fill it?

And no more frigging carpetbagging dirtballs please ........like Torturin Tommy from West Va.

As far as conventional wisdom and self fulfilling prophecies in the contrary I simply say F U Celia and the donkey who rode you in.
 
A fresh change to a credible person who is not corporate aligned or special interest allied, or wildly partisan or radically ideological would be a start.

A Tyler Nixon for example?
 
Actually I was thinking of Dave Burris. We all know he only pretends to be wildly partisan. Spivack fits the bill. Unfortunately I think he has hurt himself with his fire breathing campaign style. It is a shame because he has said all the right things versus Castle's saying a whole lot of nothing. It seems like the Democrat leadership conceded defeat long ago. They certainly have done nothing to help him. Why they wouldn't go after Castle as hard as they have Wharton is a total mystery given how much ammunition they have. They really defaulted on this one. Overall it is pretty dismal that Spivack's recognition numbers are so low. Not because he has done anything wrong but because the voting public is so uninformed that they don't even know who a major party candidate for Congress is 2 weeks before the election. That may be somewhat understandable in a big state or huge media market but in a place as cozy as Delaware it does not speak well of Delaware's voters. Then again they're the ones who gave us Minner, Castle, and Carper in the first place, over and over and over. Could it be all the toxic fumes they have been breathing for so long? Something has led to mindless incumbentitis all around.
 
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