DE's Newest Senator: Ted Kaufman

[Lunar]

Delaware governor Ruth Ann Minner (D-Del.) has appointed Joe Biden's longtime senior adviser Ted Kaufman to succeed Biden on an interim basis in the Senate.  Kaufman will be a placeholder until 2010 -- he will not be running for re-election.

Kaufman will be sworn in as the new senator in early-to-mid-January.

Developing...

[Sam Spade]

Interesting...  Who's going to run?  I mean, likely the only way the GE race could be interesting is if Castle decides to give a shot (possible).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Interesting...  Who's going to run?  I mean, likely the only way the GE race could be interesting is if Castle decides to give a shot (possible).

A 71 year-old man in poor health doesn't strike me as someone very likely to take on a Senate run.

[Rococo4]

really not a question he is a placeholder so beau can run in 2010.  beau obviously wants to win it and not be appointed.  perfect scenario for him

[Lunar]

story finally developed:

“He’ll walk in there with all the experience he needs to do the job for Delaware,” Minner said at a press conference this afternoon, emphasizing that he will only be serving for the remaining two years of Biden’s unexpired term.

Kaufman is a co-chair on Biden's transition team and is one of the Delaware senator's closest advisers. He spent about two decades serving as his chief of staff.

He is currently president of Public Strategies, a political and management consulting firm based in Wilmington, Delaware.

Kaufman said he is not interested in serving in the Senate long-term, and will not be running for re-election in 2010.

“I do not think that Delaware’s appointed senator should spend the next two years running for office,” Kaufman said. “I will do this job to the best of my ability to serve the people of Delaware.”

Minner’s decision to appoint a caretaker like Kaufman paves the way for Biden’s son, Attorney General Beau Biden, to run for his father’s Senate seat in two years. Beau Biden, a member of Delaware’s National Guard, is currently preparing to be deployed to the Middle East, and took himself out of the running for the appointment.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1108/Minner_appoints_Ted_Kaufman_to_Biden_seat.html?showall

[TheresNoMoney]

Good, logical choice.

[Хahar 🤔]

Never heard of the guy. Good idea, though.

[Mr.Phips]

Interesting...  Who's going to run?  I mean, likely the only way the GE race could be interesting is if Castle decides to give a shot (possible).

Would Republicans really want Castle to give up that House seat, because it would likely be gone if he left it. 

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Interesting...  Who's going to run?  I mean, likely the only way the GE race could be interesting is if Castle decides to give a shot (possible).

Would Republicans really want Castle to give up that House seat, because it would likely be gone if he left it. 

Senate > House.

[Lunar]

Castle doesn't want to take on Beau anyway, he's been friends with the Biden family for 40 years.  I don't think he has the health or the willpower to rage a bloody battle that he'd have a good chance at losing.



How effective can a two-year minion be in the Senate I wonder

[Keystone Phil]

Surprising but it makes sense.

[The Mikado]

Congrats, Senator Kaufman!  I have no idea who you are, but I'm sure you'll be a stellar Senator and a strong and able voice for the people of Delaware.  I'll pour a toast to you tonight.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

So, how long until the Carney for Congress 2010 committee gets formed?

[Lunar]

So, how long until the Carney for Congress 2010 committee gets formed?

I think Carney may decide it better to swoop in on Castle's seat when Castle retires than take on Beau in a Democratic primary.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

So, how long until the Carney for Congress 2010 committee gets formed?

I think Carney may decide it better to swoop in on Castle's seat when Castle retires than take on Beau in a Democratic primary.

That would be my point.

[Lunar]

Ah neato.  He might have to wait unitl 2012 or 14 though depending on how long Castle holds on.

[MarkWarner08]

Just what the Senate needs: more anonymous technocrats. Seriously, I couldn't be happier that the guv of DE placed competency over nepotism. Unfortunately, Kaufman will be gone after two years and Joe-Beau can step in to fill his father's space as the biggest waster of C-SPAN viewers' time.

[The Mikado]

Just what the Senate needs: more anonymous technocrats. Seriously, I couldn't be happier that the guv of DE placed competency over nepotism. Unfortunately, Kaufman will be gone after two years and Joe-Beau can step in to fill his father's space as the biggest waster of C-SPAN viewers' time.

Anonymous technocrats are awesome!  The Bidens, in a different way, are also awesome.  I disagree with you! 

[MarkWarner08]

Just what the Senate needs: more anonymous technocrats. Seriously, I couldn't be happier that the guv of DE placed competency over nepotism. Unfortunately, Kaufman will be gone after two years and Joe-Beau can step in to fill his father's space as the biggest waster of C-SPAN viewers' time.

Anonymous technocrats are awesome!  The Bidens, in a different way, are also awesome.  I disagree with you! 

I can get away with that dig because my home state's new Senator is the quintessential anonymous technocrat.  Jeff Merkley may look silly when he's eating a hot dog, but just look at the grin on his face when he examines an IPCC report on the role of anthropogenic causes and the exacerbation of global warming. To put an old cliche to work: The Senate needs more workhorses (e.g., Judd Gregg and Ron Wyden) and fewer showboats (e.g., a certain Senator from MA who has a portrait of himself in his office).

Back to Kaufman. He could be wildcard on key votes. Since his will never face the voters, he'll have no pressure to make politically expedient votes. If he wanted, he could push legislation to decriminalize medical marijuana. After decades in D.C., Kaufman has two years to do whatever he wants. I hope he stands out in the Senate.

[Sam Spade]

fwiw, I just threw Castle out as a possible way the race could be interesting.  I think the most likely answer lies with those who say that this is a placeholder for Beau.