Mike Castle Opts Out of Write-in Candidacy Against Christine O'Donnell

Longtime Republican Congressman Mike Castle will not be seeking the Delaware Senate seat via a write-in campaign, he announced last night in a press release.

Castle, who lost the contest's Republican nomination to Tea Party-backed Christine O'Donnell earlier this month, said he had been considering a write-in candidacy at the urging of his supporters. In the statement, Castle said he was "humbled" by the encouragement, but that "seeking office in this manner is in the best interest of all Delawareans," according to the statement.

"Since the outcome of the Republican primary election for the United States Senate, many Delawareans have encouraged me to pursue the Senate seat as a write-in candidate for the general election in November," Castle said. "While I would have been honored to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate, I do not believe that seeking office in this manner is in the best interest of all Delawareans. Therefore, it's time for Jane and me to begin thinking about the next chapter of our lives."

Castle announcedon Sept. 23 that he was considering a write-in campaign. Even then, however, he said that such a campaign would be "logistically difficult" and that it "probably" wouldn't happen.

According to a recent Rasmussen poll, Castle's entry into the race would likely draw more votes from Democratic nominee Chris Coons than from Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell, whose credibility has been questioned repeatedly since she won the nomination.

Castle, at nine terms the longest-serving congressman in Delaware state history, neither mentioned nor endorsed O'Donnell in his statement.

"Delaware is a close community of people who find practical solutions to the complex challenges we face," Castle said. "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."