The Republicans have yet to find credible candidates to run against any of the showcase Democrats.
State Attorney General
The Republican incumbent, M. Jane Brady, a three term attorney general, resigned the position to be appointed by Democratic Governor Ruth Ann Minner to a Superior Court Judgeship in New Castle County last fall. This allowed Governor Minner to appoint her replacement, and it looked like she would appoint propsective Democratic frontrunner, attorney Beau Biden. However, Biden turned down the appointment before it was proffered. So Gov. Minner appointed fellow Democrat Carl C. Danberg to serve out Brady's term. Mr. Danberg has declined to run for a full term, which leaves Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III, a candidate who will not have a problem with name recognition.
The Republicans so far have been unable to secure the sort of top-tier candidate they would like. U.S. Attorney Colm F. Connolly is the preferred Republican candidate. But he has shown no inclination to leave his federal appointment, and he has suffered some embarrassing case reversals this past week.
U.S. Senator
U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D) is running for a second term. He will not be seriously challenged by the Republicans, if at all. Michele M. Rollins, the business executive, was the preferred Republican candidate for the Senate, but she said no.
State Treasurer
Democrat Jack A. Markell is up for re-election. Robert I. Hicks, the former New Castle County auditor, was considering running, but he decided to return to the private sector to make money instead. No Republican has yet to emerge to challenge Markell, a possible gubernatorial or congressional candidate in 2008.
State Auditor
Republican Auditor R. Thomas Wagner Jr. is again for reelection. I think Mr. Wagner has been Auditor since before I was born. I do not remember another person being Auditor. Well, Democrat Robert B. Wasserbach hopes to be the first Democratic Auditor of my memory. He is contemplating a rematch with Wagner. A throw-in four years ago, he got 38 percent of the vote as a banker with no political experience and little backing. Since then he has left the private sector to work first as the auditor for Wilmington and now for New Castle County.
U.S. Representative
U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle is running for relection to his 8th term as Delaware's sole representative in Congress.
Daily Kossack Delaware Dem toyed with the idea of challenging incumbent Castle, but alas, he decided against it. Delaware Dem would have been favored by wide margins due to his keen writing skill and knack for bringing communities together (just kidding!).
Dennis Spivack, a lawyer from my northern New Castle County, is interested in the congressional seat. He has a history not only with the Democrats but with Castle. Spivack was involved with the party in the 1970s and 1980s, and before Castle gave up his law partnership for politics about 25 years ago, Spivack worked for the firm of Schnee & Castle.
The Democrats are not kidding themselves about Spivack's chances against Castle. Only in a tidal wave election, where every Republican is swept out of office in the liberal Northeast, will Spivak win. But we must contest every seat seriously.
For the past fourteen years, while Delaware changed from being a moderate to conservative bellweather state to a solidly blue Democratic state, where the Democrats have seven of the nine statewide officeholders, including governor and both senators, the Republicans have been frantically searching for some way to stem their losses, to no avail.
Republican fundraising continues to be stellar and unabated, they have no candidates to step up to the plate and an electorate that hates the National Republican Party.
According to Republican State Party Chair Terry Strine, he says that "We are working. We have nothing to announce yet. We have not yet persuaded what we see as winnable candidates. It's not been for lack of effort or commitment."
No. It is lack of support in Delaware.
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