Republican Delaware Rep. Castle won’t wage write-in campaign

Reporting from Washington — Delaware Rep. Michael N. Castle announced late Wednesday that he would not seek to revive his candidacy for U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate.

The Republican had been considering the option after his stunning loss to “tea party”-backed candidate Christine O’Donnell in the state’s Sept. 14 primary. In a statement, Castle said he was “humbled by the strong encouragement” of many who hoped he would run, but that he did not “believe that seeking office in this manner is in the best interest of all Delawareans.”

“I understand why people care so deeply about this election; I listened closely to many viewpoints and carefully considered the option of staying in the race,” he said. But, “it’s time for Jane and me to begin thinking about the next chapter of our lives.”

Castle has held elected office in Delaware for 40 of the past 44 years, including two terms as governor and nine terms as the state’s lone congressman. He had not lost an election until O’Donnell -- backed by Tea Party Express, Sarah Palin and grass-roots activists -- toppled him after a campaign in which she argued he was not sufficiently conservative.

O’Donnell has since faced heavy scrutiny from the national media over her past, including statements made as a guest panelist on the now-defunct “Politically Incorrect” talk show. On Wednesday she denied misleading voters about her education, disavowing an online profile in her name that erroneously said she studied at Oxford.

Democrat Chris Coons, executive of New Castle County, is considered the favorite to win in November.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is waging a write-in campaign after losing her Republican primary in August to conservative attorney Joe Miller.

Castle, 71, did not indicate in his statement whether he would consider running for office again in 2012.

“I look forward to continuing to serve our state as your congressman in the remaining months of my term in a principled manner; Delawareans deserve no less,” he said.

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