Delaware is a small state, rather easier to organize, I believe, than urban monsters like California and Connecticut.  It has given percentages slightly larger than the national average to third-party/independent presidential candidates, 20% to Perot in 92, a combined third-party/independent presidential total of 11% in 96.  There is only Representative for this state, making it a very tempting target for ARP.

    Senator Roth will probably be running for re-election in 2000 when his seat is up.  While in general he is a typical Republican politician, supporting budget-busting tax cuts, supported the GOP  $500-per-child tax credit, a kneejerk supporter of free trade, he is out of step with the current thinking of GOP dogma on a number of interesting key issues.  He was one of those who grasped the nettle on the issue of the Consumer Price Index, highlighting the fact that most economists believe it is overstated.  That latter act did not endear him to the McConnells and Lotts of this world.  In addition, he has supported some environmental causes, supported the Brady Handgun control bill, and voted for Clinton's controversial surgeon general nominee, Henry Foster.

    Which leaves as the main question who will challenge him.  Currently the conventional thinking is that Democrat Tom Carper, governor and former congressman, will almost certainly vie for this seat.  Given Roth's decision, ARP, as we see it, only has one option now:  Run a flag-planter, someone just to get our name on the map and not much more.  Our goal should be to shoot for a total of at least 6%, which, if taken entirely from Roth, will be sufficient to hold him to the 50% mark.

    We don't have much use for Joe Biden.  While conservative on some issues, like welfare reform and partial birth abortion, he is in general a rather typical Democratic liberal.  Moreover, he has not much of a record at all when it comes to fiscal responsibility, voting  in lockstep with his Democratic leaders against the Chafee-Breaux balanced budget and against the provision to increase the eligibility age for Medicare.  Politically, however, he is very powerful in his home state, receiving 60% of the state's vote in his last election in 96.  I suggest we run a flag-planting race here, attempting only to win the 10% of the vote needed to hold him to 50% in his next outing in 2002.
 

    There are no numbered congressional districts in Delaware as the state is too small.  Consequently there is only one Representative-at-large representing the state in the House.  Currently, Mike Castle(R) holds the seat.  He supports Shays/Meehan, is a budget and tax cut hawk, voting with only 26 other Republican Representatives for the Blue Dog budget this year, and appears to be a giant among moderate Republicans, -- universally respected and very influential.  There was very serious speculation during the height of Gingrich's ethics problems that Castle might wind up as Gingrich's replacement, particularly if a sufficient number of moderate Blue Dog-type Democrats defected.

    Late word as of March 1 is that Roth may run for re-election in 2000.  If that happens, Castle will probably stay put, which means we then should endorse him and work hard for his re-election.