Oh wait, I forgot. The GOP will probably denounce this because they will tell me that I don’t understand the importance of propagating the RINO extension principle for this election.

I’ve had it explained to me a few times. In order to promote the conservative candidate in an election, it is better to empower the RINO/liberal candidate at all times.

The key goal here is to continue with the bedrock foundation definition of the GOP characterized in those like Crist, McCain, Specter, Bennett, Trigger Sisters, Graham, Murkowski, and Lugar.

I did hear a rumor though that the GOP might be reconsidering who it supports. There doesn’t seem to be much evidence of this though yet.

I’m sending a donation to O’Donnell.

GREAT post Erick.

The Rasmussen poll that shows O’Donnell leading Democrat Coons by 2 showed Castle leading Coons by 11. Margin of error is +/- 3.

Not sure where you got that Castle doesn’t beat Coons.

It is troubling to hear of this ‘deal’. I’ll check my sources as well.

Mike Castle is not going to become a Dem and resign. His ego is too big for that. Why would he run in the first place? That is the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard. Beau Biden didn’t run because he was afraid of Castle. I know Delaware politics, please trust me on this.

I am no Castle fan but I can assure you that he is the lesser of two evils. I did some consulting for O’Donnell in 2008, the 2nd time she ran. She does not care about the country or the conservative movement. She only runs to pay her bills. I know that sounds crazy but it is absolutely true. In 2008 she tried to hire a maid with campaign funds, was about to have her house foreclosed on and her car repossessed. The IRS was auditing her because she didn’t pay her taxes. She was only saved when her lawyer boyfriend Brent bought her house and car for her. Christine does not work, hasn’t had a job in years. She has zero accomplishments. Even if she is great on the issues, with no real record it is irresponsible to elect someone like that to the Senate. She will be a national embarrassment.

There honestly is more of a chance that she would resign than Castle. She is completely delusional. She actually was convinced that she would be the keynote speaker at the 2008 GOP convention and thought that passing out sunblock packets that said “don’t get burned by higher taxes” was the key to victory to beat Joe Biden. The list goes on; trust me she is a horrible person. She doesn’t pay her staff (not me, I volunteered), has racked up an incredible amount of debt, and pays herself with campaign contributions.

Castle isn’t the answer either but I’d rather him for 4 years than some unemployed egotistical nut who only cares about herself.

Say No to Christine O’Donnell please!

Almost forgot, she was fired from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute for stealing their mailing list. Then she tried to sue them, claiming she was fired for sexism. They’re a conservative think tank, don’t take my word for it, ask them. That was the last paying job she had a few years ago.

“In fact, Christine O’Donnell, unlike Mike Castle, is actually ahead of the Democrat in the polls in Delaware. Read that sentence again people because too many of you think we must support Castle to win the seat.

Christine O’Donnell is ahead of the Democrat in the polls.

Mike Castle is not.”

What “polls’? The last polling done on this race was by Rasmussen, and it has Castle OVER Coons, the democrat 47% to 36%, which is an 11% spread.

Every single poll done on the Delaware US Senate race has Castle WINNING. Go to RealClearPolitics and see for yourself. I defy anyone to find one credible national polling organization (Rasmussen, Gallup, Quinnipiac, etc…) that has Castle losing and O’Donnell winning.

And why would Castle leave the party? Castle won at the State GOP Convention in May with over 70% of the vote out of HUNDREDS of Republican delegates. He enjoys overwhelming support within the Delaware Republican Party. He’ll never leave.

Don’t fall for any of this.

“In fact, Christine O’Donnell, unlike Mike Castle, is actually ahead of the Democrat in the polls in Delaware. Read that sentence again people because too many of you think we must support Castle to win the seat.

Christine O’Donnell is ahead of the Democrat in the polls.

Mike Castle is not.”

What “polls’? The last polling done on this race was by Rasmussen, and it has Castle OVER Coons, the democrat 47% to 36%, which is an 11% spread.

Every single poll done on the Delaware US Senate race has Castle WINNING. Go to RealClearPolitics and see for yourself. I defy anyone to find one credible national polling organization (Rasmussen, Gallup, Quinnipiac, etc…) that has Castle losing and O’Donnell winning.

And why would Castle leave the party? Castle won at the State GOP Convention in May with over 70% of the vote out of HUNDREDS of Republican delegates. He enjoys overwhelming support within the Delaware Republican Party. He’ll never leave.

Don’t fall for any of this.

Moreover, most party switching follows national trends of strength. People tend to leave minority parties to join majority parties. Why would Castle, a Republican this entire time, switch to a Democrat now? and give up his seat?

To make this believable, we need to learn more about the “deal”. I for one am skeptical.

is he actually ‘in’ the party now? He’s definitely to the left of Ben Nelson, to the left of pretty much every Republican in Washington, I don’t doubt his willingness to become a Democrat should the situation seem right, but even if he doesn’t he’s still basicly a Democrat anyway. I’m a big fan of O’Donnell, she seems to be coming on strong in the polls, the voters don’t want yet another Washington politician, particularly one as far-left as Castle, they want a real Conservative leader like her! Thanks for the great post Erick!

ODonnell. I do not want to trash a fellow republican on this site but Christine has a long list of financial and ethical problems. You can visit the lefty sites or google or bing her if you want details. All I can say she would be toast in a GE with Coons

The lefty and the democrats know deep down their only chance to win this seat is topple Castle in a primary.

I don’t put a lot of faith on what ODonnell’s campaign thinks will happen

I might add that Castle sweep the GOP convention and has the support of every party regular in DE. Its a small state and Castle has probably met every republican primary voter.

If you want to compare Jim DeMint-Doc Coburn-Mike Lee-Ken Buck-Karne Handel-Nikki Haley -Sarah Palin to Christine ODonnell you would shocked to see what huge resumes these people have compared to Christine. There are people who have outsanding conservative records and then there is Christine who has never won elective office and her personal finances are a total wreck

Really disappointed in this post. Red State is a site I visit frequently for thoughtful, accurate writing.

If you think Castle would switch parties, then give some evidence.

If O’Donnell is running better than Castle in general election polls, then show us the numbers.

If you’re going to push O’Donnell, then be sure her background checks out. Just voting “the right way” isn’t enough.

chance the GOP gets to 51 this November. Crystal ball stuff is hard enough for this November what about 2012 senate races?

The democrats have a ton of vulnerable seats-weak incumbents-several possible retirements.

Does it make sense for Castle to leave the GOP majority or near majority to go into the minority?

Plus how think that party switch work out for Specter? Come 2014 he could be whipped in a primary.

The rumour I have read is that senator Carper is 65 and looks a little dreary these days may retire. Talk about a seat filler he has done squat in DC and like Bayh he is used to actually getting something done. He is a junior nothing in DC. He could earn some big bucks if he retired

This post should be incredible. The idea that a Republican would run a US Senate seat merely to hand it over to the VP’s son is absolutely the biggest scandal of … well, probably of the election cycle.

Except that there isn’t actually evidence of that. This newsbreaking story has six links in it. All of them link to a candidate’s website. If O’Donnell’s website was running the same story you are, that would be one thing. She’s not. She does cast aspersions on his ability to restrain himself from switching parties, but she doesn’t actually come out and accuse him of planning to switch parties.

So we’re left with a blogger who has attempted to destroy the reputation of a former Governor and current Representative to Congress. Now I’m one of those people who wonders about the reputation of just about anybody who’s been in Congress for 20 years, but this is just crazy. No evidence, no quotes, just a “some people say ..”. Oh, and I dig the part about “not just from Christine O’Donnell people, but party regulars in Delaware,” like Christine O’Donnell would be a credible source on Castle. She’s his opponent. Opponents occasionally do cooky things for no good reason. If she said it, you would have to fact check it.

That, topped by the polls that you know of that nobody else has seen, makes me just slightly hesitant to accept this post as gospel truth.

Maybe you have fact checked it, but until we see the evidence, we have no reason to suspect that you have. This post is an attempt to ruin a reputation without evidence, merely on heresay. It’s not nearly as bad as saying (also without evidence and with clear partisan motives) “Hey, I had an affair with Nikki Haley!”but man, it’s in the same ball park.

“Last polling I saw in the race had O’Donnell ahead. That was about two weeks ago. I see from some commenters that this is no longer the case. Still, do we really trust that Castle can beat the Dem before becoming one?”

There was NO credible polling that EVER showed O’Donnell ahead and Castle losing. Again, back up your assertions with a CREDIBLE national poll like Rasmussen, Gallup, Quinnipiac etc…otherwise you’ve been duped by Christine O’Donnell and her campaign.

If her campaign is distorting the truth now, what will she be like as a Senator?

The horror. The horror.

“Last polling I saw in the race had O’Donnell ahead. That was about two weeks ago. I see from some commenters that this is no longer the case. Still, do we really trust that Castle can beat the Dem before becoming one?”

There was NO credible polling that EVER showed O’Donnell ahead and Castle losing. Again, back up your assertions with a CREDIBLE national poll like Rasmussen, Gallup, Quinnipiac etc…otherwise you’ve been duped by Christine O’Donnell and her campaign.

If her campaign is distorting the truth now, what will she be like as a Senator?

The horror. The horror.

Last time I checked, Christine wasn’t taking money from groups funded by George Soros!
http://delawarerepublican.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/the-mike-castle-george-soros-connection/

Is this post a joke? You make some harsh accusations against Castle, and provide no evidence, and then claim to have seen some polls that nobody else has seen which show that, contrary to EVERY SINGLE OTHER POLL COMMISSIONED FOR THIS RACE, that O’Donnell actually stands a better chance of winning the seat than Castle.

I appreciate your support for more principled, outsider candidates, but this is just sad.

But O’Donnell uses her campaign contributions to pay off her rent, and has not paid her taxes in the form of $11,000. If she were a democrat, we all would rip her for both of those things, and I am going to be consistent. She is not a good candidate, she is a perennial candidate. Follow Bill Buckley’s rule, and unfortunately she does not suffice. And Erick do you have any proof to back up your accusations, because that is sort of important?

Are you serious, Clark?

I don’t like Castle, and would almost certainly vote against him in the primary if I was a Delaware resident. However, allegations of this kind should either be voice as a speculative prediction or backed up with evidence.

Erick, your credibility is a key factor in how Redstate is perceived by the outside world. To put out these kinds of assertions without any citations, without naming any sources, etc. is disappointing.

Characterizing this as a “done deal” means that there should be some evidence, someone willing to go on the record. I fear that you have been played by your “source” on this.

by winning a seat…switching…and then giving it to Biden after going to the trouble of winning it?

I’m sceptical unless someone can show me the quid pro quo here,,,

That said…GO ODONNELL!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

Mike Castle may right checks, but that does not mean he votes with them, or stand up for conservative principles.

Castle is was one of the 8 who voted FOR Cap&Trade….
Castle was a co-sponsor for DISCLOSE…..
Castle voted against the missile defense shield three times (2007, 2008, 2009)…
Castle supports the DC gun ban……

Castle publicly stated last week that he will not side with the Republican opposition in Congress (House, or Senate)….

But the crux of this post. In Delaware there has been a long-standing handshake agreement between Senator Carper, now VP Biden and Castle.

VP Biden’s son Beau was supposed to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate but he bowed out for a price. In exchange for Beau dropping out, the Delaware GOP would not put up a challenge to AG Beau Biden (up for re-election).

so there will be no GOP challenger for AG in Delaware this year.

http://removerinos.com/

How far-fetched is it that the biggest RINO would switch parties? He’s never been proud to be a Republican. I heard him as much say so at a Wilmington Rotary meeting years ago. He told the story of campaigning door to door. A woman answered and asked what party be belonged to. He said he hesitated and reluctantly told her he was a Republican. I assume Castle thought all the Rotary members were Democrats. Why else would he tell such a story?

Delaware politics are incestuous but this is ridiculous. Absolutely no sources. And only Erick Erickson has heard this but none of the local media or other political blogs, who have connections as well.

This site’s credibilily just went below 0. You practice everything you criticize the liberal media for. Hypocrite.

O’Donnell is begging for endorsements from DeMint & Palin.

O’Donnell did meet with DeMint. The SC Senator says he was impressed with O’Donnell, but wanted to see if she can improve her standing in the general election polls before he actually endorses her. Palin been mum on the DE race.

So for now, O’Donnell will have to settle for Tea Party Express help. If Club for Growth and Freedom Works join in , then the DE Senate primary will be competitive real fast.

and several others on this one: there’s no evidence for the claims that you make on this post, Erick.

To digress and speak on O’Donnell for a moment, she’s basically a perennial candidate who hasn’t held a job for years, and whose last employer she sued for gender discrimination under dubious circumstances. She’s mostly unknown in DE outside of right-wing circles, as far as I can tell from anecdotal evidence (I’d really like to see a name recognition poll to confirm this), but she’s made her career prior to perennial office-hunting by being a social conservative talking head on the major news networks. In that time, she’s said some stupid and outrageous things: comes with the territory. She hasn’t really focused on fiscal conservatism until now: that may be genuine, or it may be an attempt to latch onto the Tea Party headwinds, I don’t know. I just know that she hasn’t really spoken on those issues until very recently Unfortunately for her and her supporters, that will make for easy ads against her in the primary, where she will be painted (somewhat accurately) as the Church Lady, and where her dumb comments as a TV pundit will come back to bite her. In the Northeast, you can get away with holding some socially conservative views (being an undercover SoCon is usually not a problem), but being a culture warrior with no fiscally conservatives creds is pretty much a death sentence in those states.

Others have noted O’Donnell’s personal problems with debt, campaign funds malfeasance, and general impropriety, very little of which O’Donnell denies (she’s tried to paint herself as a sympathetic figure). It stretches back to college, which she never graduated because she didn’t pay off her debts. I don’t think that she’s running solely to pay off her debts, but the question of how she will pay them off, and what that means for her conservative bonafides, is an open question, though you can be sure that the Dem will make an issue of it.

Castle is as bad as you’ve heard: somewhere to the left of the Maine Twins. He will, however, likely win and vote better than the Dem. Damning by faint praise? Sure, but I don’t feel obligated to pretty up his resumé simply because the True Conservative™ isn’t that great.

Me, personally? I’m glad that I don’t have to make the choice, and I’m not sending any money to any of the candidates: I don’t hate my money that much!

Its one thing to support someone, but to spread vicious lies about their opponent is another. As Dale Peterson once said “Were Republicans, Were better than that!”

I’m a conservative in Delaware and I’m voting for Castle. O’Donnell will do more harm for the conservative than Castle. Castle will get elected and will hold the line on fiscal issues (he voted against the stimulus bill) and other issues (he voted against the health care bill). Therefore, he is better than ANY democrat, including Coons, who will vote lockstep with Obama. He is the only person capable voting against key Obama initiatives and winning this state at the same time.

Why is O’Donnell bad for the conservative movement? She stole people’s hard earned donations from 2008, donations used to help the conservative movement, and spent it for private purposes: http://www.delawaretomorrow.com/tossing-your-money-down-the-christine-odonnell-money-pit/ . She is not a hardworking American like the rest of us. Running for office and stealing your money is the only thing keeping herself from actually trying to get a real job. And Erick, you fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

She is not a fiscal conservative. As pointed above, she only started to talk about fiscal issues last year. O’Donnell, if elected, will tarnish the conservative movement.

I love how these trolls sign on with “Conservative” in their names and say how conservative they are, only to support the candidate who would be THE MOST LIBERAL REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE!!!

Erick called Charlie Crist’s implosion months before anyone else. He also called his switch to Dem when everyone else said it would never happen.

Doubt if you must, but I think Erick’s track record speaks for itself.

Just ask Bob Bennett.

Mike castle is basically a Democrat. Along with Bill Binnie and Tom Campbell, I would be unable to vote for them in the general.

Now that the reasoning for the original post is backed up by both unsubstantiated supposition and bad polling data (Rasmussen today has Castle up 12 while Coons beats O’Donnell by ten) I’m eagerly awaiting the update.