Del. GOP rep to seek Biden’s former Senate seat

WILMINGTON, Del. — Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Castle announced Tuesday he will run for the U.S. Senate seat Democrat Joe Biden left to become vice president.

Castle’s decision sets up a possible 2010 race against Biden’s son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, who is weighing a bid for the Democratic nomination but has not announced his political plans.

Republican Party leaders have encouraged centrists such as Castle to run, hoping to win back voters and regain control of the Senate. In May, key Republican senators jumped behind the Senate candidacy of Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida even though another well-established GOP candidate had stronger conservative credentials.

Castle, 70, is a two-term former governor, the lone Delaware member of the U.S. House and longest serving congressman in state history. He has never lost a political race since being elected to the state House in 1966.

He said he expects Beau Biden to run and is confident he can win what could be one of the most closely watched matchups in next year’s midterm elections.

“Once I crossed the line, I realized this is a good decision,” Castle told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview during a train ride to Washington after announcing his decision.

Now in his ninth term in the House, Castle has carved out a reputation as a leader of Republican centrists, a fiscal conservative and social moderate unafraid to go against the party line. He has bucked the GOP’s positions on abortion and the budget, for example, as well as on energy policy and the environment.

He said he had been thinking about the Senate race since it became clear that Biden would become vice president, but only made up his mind recently after discussing it with his wife.

“We need the strongest and most experienced leadership we can find in this country today,” Castle told a news conference near the Wilmington train station.

Beau Biden has not announced his plans. The 40-year-old returned home last week with his National Guard unit after a yearlong deployment to Iraq. He declined to say Tuesday when he would announce his political intentions.

“I just got back from Iraq, and I’m spending time with my family and getting back to work,” he told The Associated Press.

Castle said he respected both Bidens and was aware that the younger Biden could be a strong opponent, particularly with the backing of his political family. Biden likewise said Castle is a good and decent man who has served the state well.

The seat is currently held by longtime Biden aide and confidante Ted Kaufman, who was appointed by then Gov.-Ruth Ann Minner. But Kaufman has said repeatedly that he will not run in 2010.

Just weeks before the 2006 election, Castle was hospitalized for several days after suffering a small stroke, but he said Tuesday that he was left unaffected by it. He won re-election in 2006 and 2008 by comfortable margins.

On the Net:

U.S. Rep. Mike Castle: www.castle.house.gov