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The blogosphere’s been buzzing for the past few days about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s endorsement of Mike Castle. This is a huge get for Castle, as Christie is a grass-roots folk hero for many on the right. Christie’s endorsement reveals a few interesting things about the New Jersey governor and the dynamic of the (now escalating) Delaware Republican Senate primary race.
- Christie knows what it takes to win as a Republican in Democratic-leaning states. Christie’s been able to fight hard for conservative causes in New Jersey, but he knows when not to go too far. In his epic budget battle, Christie pressed Democrats in the state legislature to the breaking point and won. Part of Christie’s success depended upon picking battles. Though Christie has a huge fan base among the deeply Republican parts of the blogosphere, he realizes that, to use the somewhat hackneyed phrase, politics is the art of the possible.
- This endorsement advances Christie as a national figure. Many big-name Republicans (such as Sarah Palin) have stayed out of this primary campaign, giving Christie an opportunity. Christie’s popularity amongst conservatives gives him a valuable opportunity to reach out and advocate on behalf of moderate Republicans; with a reputation of being a rock-ribbed conservative, Christie can deflect claims that he’s a treacherous RINO sellout. Moderate Republicans could be a key voting bloc were Christie to make a bid for higher office. Especially if Castle wins the general election (a very good bet) after winning the primary, this endorsement will burnish Christie’s record of picking winners.
- Christie knows Castle is a strong candidate in the general election. He’s led in polls since the beginning of this race. He’s won race after race after race in Delaware. This looks like the first real chance for Republicans to gain a Senate seat in Delaware since Republican incumbent Bill Roth lost in 2000 to Tom Carper. Roth wasn’t exactly a fire-breathing right-winger, but he was an ally of fiscal conservatives and was key in putting forward a number of important reforms, including the tax cuts of 1981.
- Republicanism in the mid-Atlantic states has taken a beating over the decade or so and may have reached its nadir in 2006. Castle’s election as senator would help rebuild the fortunes of Eastern Seaboard Republicans, a group that could use all of the support it can get. For Republicans to create an enduring majority that can accomplish long-lasting reforms, it will be crucial for them to have significant presences in all regions of the country. Look at the current Democratic majority in the House and Senate: it draws from every part of the country, from the West Coast to the South to the interior West to the Northeast. To get big numbers in the Senate, which will be key for passage of many important reforms, Republicans will need not only a deep but a broad well of potential support.
Increasing acrimony in this race could be damaging to Republican fortunes in the general. Castle’s circulation of Christie’s endorsement may be an attempt to shut down the rising anti-Castle sentiment before it gets too virulent.
Originally published at A Certain Enthusiasm.
Mike Castle is the end of Republicans in Delaware, not the beginning. Christies endorsement means nothing. Christie himself should be viewed from the prospective of what a toilet N.J. really is: Any change is good and that includes the billionaire Wall St. banker who was the former governor. A final note: The Tea Party has latched on to an epic loser in Christine O’Donnell who actually makes Sharon Angle look good, and you didn’t think that was possible! The roads in Delaware are now lined with O’Donnell signs, paid for with out of state money but this is not Alaska or Alabama. Castle will probably win and continue as a bought and paid for Corporatist, O’Donnell will be looking for a place to live when the campaign money is gone as it’s her only income.
Typical out-of-state analysis of our RINO Governor, who supports Obamacare, Cap and Trade, Amnesty and Gun Control. Interesting talk about how conservative he is, but never any specific examples. There is a common thread. Wherever you find a “moderate” RINO, you will find Chris Christie, followed by out-of-state bloggers, “journalists”, brownnosers and job-seekers who get their news from the Christie press office.
New Jersey and Delaware are “Blue” states because of the RINOs who run the GOP there, not because they are “liberal” states.
Even if O’Donnell loses, it’s time to cleanse the GOP of RINO scum like Castle.
BobbyRomano.
You go guy I agree with you 100%.
I think it’s more interesting to see whether, in the event that Christine O’Donnell wins, that Castle will act like a growing list* of RINO crybabies and either make no endorsement of the Republican in the general election, explore options to run as an independent, or endorse the Democrat.
*Specter, Crist, Bennett, Murkowski, McCollum, Lowden, Scozzafava, etc.
Christie–Bono-Mack in 2012.
The Tea Party has latched on to an epic loser in Christine O’Donnell who actually makes Sharon Angle look good, and you didn’t think that was possible!
Exactly. This woman has no business running for the PTA, much less U.S. Senate. This is a real shark-jumping for the Tea Party Express.
We’re better off running a 71 year old dinosaur than an attractive articulate woman. And why? Because the 71 year old dinosaur has views identical to the Democrat on every single issue (note that Castle is one of about six Republicans NOT to sign King’s Obamacare Repeal Discharge Petition).
In the current political environment of energized and educated Patriots, Mike Castle is a has been and a political joke. He needs to go the way of Murkowski, Bennett, Spector and Crist–into political oblivion. He was one of only five GOP House members to vote for cap and trade, a reflection of his scientific illiteracy. Any politician who believes in the global warming crisis and, based on that lunacy, votes to impose a $3,000-$4,000 annual energy cost on each American family (Heritage Foundation), doesn’t deserve to be elected ratcatcher. O’Donnell has more integrity and common sense in her pinky finger than Castle does in his entire body. O’Donnell all the way.
Kendall- Boy, have you drank the Kool Aid. Every independent reputable study in existence pegs the cost of addressing climate change between -$35 to $175 per year, per family…before any savings due to conservation programs or benefits from the huge stimulus in the economy (American energy companies know that they need to produce cleaner energy more efficiently…they are sitting on hundreds of billions of deferred investments waiting for Congress to set the ground rules). The construction and allied trade jobs created in building new plants and retrofitting old ones would go a long way to pulling our economy out of the dumps.
Additionally, China and Europe are leap-frogging us technology wise. If we don’t spur our own nation to innovate, we’ll truly end up hostage to foreign oil and clean tech.
Stewardship – those cost estimates also don’t take into account the increased cost of every good transported or manufactured, which could well be considerable.
BobbyRomano -
Because the 71 year old dinosaur has views identical to the Democrat on every single issue (note that Castle is one of about six Republicans NOT to sign King’s Obamacare Repeal Discharge Petition).
That’s false. He voted against the healthcare bill. He voted against the stimulus. I’m not thrilled that he voted for cap and trade, but let’s face it – it’s better to have someone who votes with you 60% of the time than someone who votes with you 0%. That’s the choice we have in this election, because let’s face it – Delaware ain’t Alaska or Utah. It’s a blue state. O’Donnell simply cannot win there. And yes, she may be pretty to look at – but that’s about all she’s got going for her.