Rep. Castle Looks to the Senate
Word is out that Michael Castle, after years in the House, is poised to run for Joe Biden’s former Senate seat. Mike Castle is the former governor of Delaware and has been a Republican fixture in the House for many years. The seat is now held by a Biden ally who is warming it for Beau Biden, Joe’s son. Full disclosure, Congressman Castle is far to the left of me on practically every issue you can name. However, he went to both Hamilton College and Georgetown Law School. I have therefore met him at both reunions and homecomings over the years. A finer citizen you will not meet.
He is a good government, big tent, Republican capable of running and wining in a Democratic leaning state. If he runs in 2010 he will have a decent shot at taking the seat. Delaware was represented for many years by Senator William Roth, he of Kemp-Roth and Roth IRA fame. While not a fire-breathing conservative (my preferred type) it can be argued that he was more responsible for lasting conservative and Republican legislative and cultural changes than any Republican not to have run for President or Vice-President (and not named Gingrich).
Like Roth, Mike Castle knows the intricacies of policy and can advance the legislative ball by working with both parties but in a conservative direction. He will also give the Democrats fits in a state and for a seat they believed theirs by right of primogeniture and entail. Mike Castle is a perfect fit for Delaware and a win by him would alter the leftist lock on the Senate mightily. He is a moderate even a conservative can love.