So, I have an election dilemma:

[psychobueller]

My Congressman, Mike Castle, is up for re-election. He is a Repub, but very moderate. He's a good guy and generally acceptable, for a Repub. The Dem opponent is not good, and I don't think she'd make a good Congresswoman, based on the campaign she has run. I usually only vote straight Dem, but I am torn here.

I will do whatever I feel is right, but I am curious as to your thoughts?

A "decent" Repub vs. an incompetent Dem: how do you vote?

[MNDemNY]

1. Mike Castle voted with G.W.Bush 94% of the time. 'nuff said.

[democrattotheend]

2. Mike Castle is pretty decent

If control of the House were at stake, I'd say make sure to vote for the Democrat, but since it's not I might consider voting for Castle if I were in your position. He's likely to win anyway so I don't think it matters that much. I'm surprised a stronger challenger did not emerge this year, since Castle is one of the only Republicans left who represents a Kerry/Gore district.

[CreekDog]

3. Mike Castle is one more vote for McCain's policies and one vote against Obama's

certainly most of the time.

that's enough for me.

i voted against Jim Kolbe-R in Tucson, Arizona (he wasn't a bad guy) against a weak opponent and I did so because I was thinking, Kolbe will vote for Gingrich as speaker. Kolbe won and though apparently "moderate" provided key votes for against progressive causes again and again.

i voted for Ellen Tauscher-D, though she is a blue dog that i really don't like anymore but nevertheless she is a vote for things i care about most of the time.

if you think of this as a parliamentary type of vote, you vote for party because on most issues, their party stance and not the candidate's inherent goodness or badness will prevail.

[Danger Mouse]

4. As long as it doesn't hurt the numbers in the house, I'd vote for the Repub.

But that's just me. I'm sorry, but I refuse to vote for a bad Dem just because they have a "D" next to their name unless it is of CRITICAL importance.

[Wickerman]

5. He will vote the party line

The party line is what gets it done in DC. If you are happy with the party line a candidate will b=vote then you go with that candidate.

If your "incompetent" Dem votes the Dem party line then she can't be too incompetent.

[Sebass1271]

6. Someone that has voted 94% of the time with BUSH

reminds me of McSame. That is enough for me to make my decision. This is not about party lines, this is about what is good for the sake of all of us. Obviously, the guy is is a decent man, but that should not be enough to vote for him.

If Obama wins this decent man, would most likely be voting AGAINST Obama's policies. This should be enough for you to make the right decision. You are not voting for Obama for just one thing, you are voting for him because you believe in his policies, and he should have all the support he can to make these policies become a reality.

Vote for the D.