The Futures Market: Delaware
ShareAnother Bottleneck State
As with a number of other small states, DE has a problem: Too much talent, not enough room on the bench. A number of Dems expressed concern that several stellar candidates, all of whom would do well on the nat'l scene, will be forced to run against each other sooner rather than later. Expensive primaries full of talented candidates could leave eventual nominees bloodied and ripe for the picking by GOPers, who are otherwise in the minority. [REID WILSON]
The stars we've been watching since '03:
Troy Brocco (R): Formerly the exec. dir. of the DE GOP, he's returned to his native NJ. He's no longer involved in DE politics.
State Sen. Charles Copeland (R): "At the very top of the up-and-comers list." A likely candidate for GOV in '08.
DE GOP Exec. Dir. Dave Crossan: We caught him on his way up, referring to him as "a force to be reckoned with." Now the party's Exec. Dir., no one has anything bad to say about him.
Atty. Everett Moore (R): Once the chair of the DE GOP, Moore returned to private law practice. He's "sometimes mentioned as a possible candidate down the line."
Ad exec. Paul Pomeroy (R): Lost a bid for State House in '04, his first run for state office. "He still has a viable future in" DE politics.
Atty/Sen. Joe Biden son Beau Biden (D): Will run for AG in '06. "He has the background and can do a good job."
Newcastle Co. Exec. Chris Coons (D): We met him as Newcastle's Co. Council Pres., but he's since moved up. "Very driven but very detail-oriented." Some say being a county executive may hinder him in the long term, while others point to a future clash with Biden and Matt Denn over a federal or statewide seat.
State Insurance Commis. Matthew Denn (D): Formerly Gov. Ruth Ann Minner's (D) legal counsel, Denn was elected statewide in '04.
State Rep. Melanie George (D): Up for re-election in '06. "Whether it's fundraising for the party, candidate recruitment, she's been a good resource for the party."
State Rep. Bethany Hall-Long (D): Prof. at U of DE. Up for re-election in '06.
And the stars to watch in the future:
State Rep. Greg Lavelle (R): Somewhat of a maverick, but "a visionary and a leader."
State Rep. Joe Booth (R): "Tagged with the up-and-comer tag." Most predict he will eventually become Speaker of the State House.
Fed. prosecutor Colm Connolly (R): Appointed by Pres. Bush to be to U.S. Atty for DE, Connolly's been mentioned as a future candidate.
Businessman Ben du Pont (R): Son of ex-DE Gov. Pete du Pont (R). "Look for him to get involved in politics in the next 5 to 10 years."
State Rep. Valerie Longhurst (D): Beat an incumbent GOP State Rep. "Not that [others] don't have the drive, but you see with Valerie that look in her eyes."
State Rep. Diana McWilliams (D): A freshman State Rep., she picked up a GOP open seat.
State Treas. Jack Markell (D): Running for a third term, he's "extremely popular."
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