Castle should do the right thing for Delaware: Endorse Chris Coons

Political campaigns can be unpredictable — just ask the eight
Republican incumbents who have been defeated in surprise outcomes
across the country.

In Delaware, one of the most surprising outcomes shocked the Republican
establishment. Highly respected Rep. Mike Castle, with a record of
public service as long as his arm, ousted by upstart Christine
O’Donnell.

The campaign was bitter, especially at the end. And in the aftermath,
Rep. Castle and his supporters have vowed not to get behind O’Donnell’s
candidacy. In fact, a senior staffer of Castle’s said O’Donnell is a
“con artist who won by lying about Castle’s record and her own life.”

Castle’s staff isn’t alone in criticizing O’Donnell. Karl “Turd Blossom” Rove was on the attack this week.

“It does conservatives little good to support candidates who at the end of the day — while they may be conservative in their public statements — do not evince the characteristics of rectitude, truthfulness and sincerity of character that the voters are looking for… I mean, there were a lot of nutty things she has been saying that just simply don’t add up.” [Karl Rove, Fox News Channel, Sept. 15, 2010].

Mike Castle is a respected public servant. For decades, he has worked across party lines to advance public policy. He has put partisanship aside for the sake of Delaware and the nation. Clearly, he doesn’t think Christine O’Donnell should be the next U.S. senator from the First State.

Rep. Castle has a chance to build on this record of bipartisanship. He should again do what is right for Delaware and the nation and endorse Chris Coons for the U.S. Senate. A bold stroke of leadership like that would cement his iconic status in Delaware politics.