Well, call me a contrarian, and I wish O’Donnell the best, but all along all Rove was saying - along with Perino and other commentators - is that O’Donnell will be a harder sell than Castle to get another Republican senator elected and to secure a GOP majority.
Do I agree with DeMint? Yes and no. I can assure everyone this: I am in Delaware, am a native of 50 years, and every down-ballot conservative, including many conservatives such as Colin Bonini and Gordon Winegar, wanted CASTLE at the top of the ticket given his proven crossover appeal.
I spoke with other operatives in the DE GOP senate caucus today and the consensus was uniform: it is now every man for himself, which is regrettable.
O’Donnell might yet win the general, or she could collapse entirely. Castle would have waltzed into the seat and many downballot conservatives would more likely have been elected.
I understand out of state folks desire to only view the Senate seat from a national perspective, but we in Delaware had our game plan which has now been obliterated. Our chance to retake the State house is now gone, too, and we had a good shot.