DE-AL: Carney Launches Challenge to Castle

Kudos to the DCCC for landing one of their first (very) big recruits of the 2010 cycle:

This morning, former Delaware Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Finance John Carney filed an official Committee to run for Delaware’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Carney, a Claymont native and long time Wilmington resident who served two terms as Lieutenant Governor from 2001 through January of 2009, issued the following statement announcing his candidacy:

“With our economy in a recession and unemployment continuing to rise, our country and our state are facing unprecedented challenges. To address them, we need strong, experienced leaders who can rise above partisanship and bring people together to address these challenges. I’ll be that kind of leader in Congress – one who works with both Republicans and Democrats to move our country forward, starting with a focus on creating jobs and getting our economy back on track.”

Carney mentioned back in January that he was considering a run, but I wasn’t sure if he’d bite and didn’t expect an announcement so soon. Of course, this is great news for Team Blue, and it’s good to see that Carney realizes he needs an early start in order to beat longtime GOP Rep. Mike Castle.

Carney narrowly (and unexpectedly) lost last year’s gubernatorial primary to Jack Markell (who went on to cruise in the general), but apparently the two have a good relationship. Carney also won his last two campaigns for LG with 62% of the vote, which is exactly what Obama netted here. I’m sure Carney is looking at the model set by Delaware’s senior Senator, Tom Carper, who also took out a septuagenarian Republican incumbent in the Blue Hen State. It can definitely happen again.

(Hat-tip to reader CD.)

38 thoughts on “DE-AL: Carney Launches Challenge to Castle”

  1. but Carney still starts about ten points behind Castle. Our best chance was in 2006. But Castle has voted the party line on the really big issues so far, like the bailout and stimulus. Carney will have lots of ammo. Plus Castles is old and in ill-health. He won’t be able to campaign as hard as Carney. This looks like a suggestion the Beau Biden will be given a relatively open fied to run for Senate if he wants to.

  2. Could this push Castle into Senate race?  If he’s going to face a popular, viable Dem in 2010 why not go for the gold?  

  3. Hammer Castle over his stimulus vote, hammer him over his budget vote, rinse, repeat.  Make sure every voter in Delaware is well aware that a vote for Castle is a vote for Boehner, Cantor and the Limbaugh crowd.

    Still, I have to agree with others.  There’s probably at least a 50% chance Castle just retires.

  4. it’s a deep blue state. Castle has voted against the stimulus and the budget and no doubt will vote against more popular things. It’s an uphill campaign but winnable. Hopefully Castle will just call it quits.  

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