New candidate for Castle's seat

Republican businessman Fred Cullis says he wants to replace nine-term Congressman Mike Castle.

Republican businessman and political newcomer Frederick Cullis wants to replace 9-term Congressman Mike Castle.  Cullis is the president of Cullis Associates, a sales agency representing manufacturers in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.  He’ll most likely face a primary opponent next September as battle to replace Castle is expected to be a hotly  contested race.

There are already two Democrats vying for the seat.  Former Lt. Governor John Carney announced his plans to run for the seat less than a year after losing a Democratic primary for governor to Jack Markell.  Transportation consultant Scott Spencer is also in the running on the Democratic side.  Spencer has used a series of unconventional events to kick off his campaign.  Those events designed to draw attention to what is considered by many to be an underdog campaign include the launching of a nine foot tall rocket in the spring.

One candidate that had been considering a run for Castle’s seat has announced that he will not be in the running.  State Representative Greg Lavelle  is out of the race before ever getting in.  “Organizing a genuine and effective campaign, including the challenges of raising more than $1 million, will be no small task.”  Lavelle adds, “This is no time for chasing windmills.”

The race for Delaware’ s U.S. House seat is likely just to be the political side show next fall, with the  main event being the race to fill the seat formerly held by now-Vice President Joe Biden.  Biden’s replacement, Senator Ted Kaufman, has said since taking the seat that he will not run for the post in the 2010 election.  The open Senate seat is bound to draw national attention from both parties.  After much speculation, Congressman Castle has said he will run for the seat.  He may face a Republican primary against Biden’s most recent opponent, Christine O’Donnell.  He may also face Biden’s son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden (D).  Also the subject of much speculation, Biden has not said whether he will run, but he has said he is seriously considering running for his father’s old seat.