How About… Shock Therapy On The Delaware Primary

Eric Dondero’s Libertarian Republican is reporting O’Donnell’s run in the Delaware Senate Republican primary.  Libertarian-leaning Michelle Malkin joins the fray.

Now the estimable William Jacobson of Legal Insurrection jumps-in:

Prof. Stephen Bainbridge and Dan Riehl have been debating the Delaware Senate Republican primary, and whether it is worth electing “RINO” Mike Castle.  Bainbridge says yes, Riehl says no.

I don’t know enough about Castle or Christine O’Donnell to weigh in on whether Castle is a RINO or O’Donnell is a true conservative — but both Bainbridge and Riehl implicitly assume the point.  I also don’t know about whether Castle is a sure thing in the general election, and O’Donnell a likely loser — again, Bainbridge and Riehl implicitly assume the point (although Bainbridge more so than Riehl).

So, assuming Castle is a RINO yet significantly more likely to win in a general election, what to do?

I say, vote for the candidate you prefer, and let the electoral chips fall where they may.  That is so now more than ever.

William Jacobson notes that from a partisan view, it’s rather a no-brainer.  With the Senate remaining largely in Democratic control, electing a RINO such as Castle isn’t a strategic advantage.

I’ll add this thought:  The value of Christine O’Donnell for the Senate is twofold. Firstly, it is a libertarian-conservative challenge to the squishies in the GOP and a morale boost to voters tired of the GOP’s Quigley contingent.

“So, assuming Castle is a RINO yet significantly more likely to win in a general election, what to do?”

Secondly, that is not a sound assumption.  When push comes to shove, “centrists”, “moderates” and “independents” – whether independent or aligned – will vote for their liberties and their pocket books.  The ascendancy of Ronald Reagan demonstrated that it is an error to assume that in order to capture “the middle” one must prop a “centrist” candidate.  Given a decent Manichaean choice, those voters in the middle will split – the majority with the libertarian conservative.

Mike Castle doesn’t represent much of a choice on either plank in the long run.  If O’Donnell sells her message well, a lot of those seeking liberty and prosperity will vote with her.  To paraphrase Jacobson… “Shocking.”