Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), who lost Tuesday’s Delaware Senate primary to conservative activist Christine O’Donnell in a stunning upset, has now openly declared he will not be endorsing her in the general election, the Washington Post reports.
“There are a lot of personal feelings in all this,” Castle said in an interview off the House floor, citing “some of the personal smears” in the bitterly fought campaign. “At this point I have no intention of endorsing.”
He ruled out supporting the Democratic nominee, New Castle County Executive Christopher Coons, suggesting that he will remain neutral in the run for Senate.
By “personal smears,” Castle was probably referring to the way that some in the O’Donnell camp dealt in innuendo and rumors that he is gay. O’Donnell herself denied having any involvement with those rumors — but did take a moment during a talk radio interview to attack him for his “un-manly” tactics, and also declared: “Mike this is not a bake-off, get your man-pants on.”
The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 52.2%-38.8%.
