Joe Manchin, John Raese win West Virginia senate primaries

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: L.A. Times

Two months after the Senate’s longest-serving member, Robert Byrd, passed away at 92, West Virginia Democrats have decided on their choice to seek his seat.

Gov. Joe Manchin, two-term governor and scion of a powerful political dynasty, on Saturday beat Ken Hechler, former West Virginia secretary of state, and Sheirl Fletcher, former state House of Delegates member, in a widely-expected primary landslide, winning 73% of the votes.

In November he’ll face businessman John Raese, who won the GOP primary in a similar landslide, and Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson for the prize of sitting in the U.S. Senate for the two-year remainder of Byrd’s six-year term.

The seat will be contested in 2012, when the president’s “coat-tails” will likely be an even bigger factor than in today’s fractious political climate.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/08/joe-manchin-john-raese-win-west-virginia-primarie

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For those keeping score, WV progressive legend, Truman aide and former Congressman Ken Hechler got just shy of 20 percent in his protest campaign to oppose mountaintop removal. Not bad for a 95-year-old on a shoestring budget.

Manchin is leading Rease by 20-25 points in all polls. He's a strong campaigner and immensely popular in the state, so expect him to win this thing in a blowout.

Raese has run many times before and is stuck in the low 30s range - roughly equal to the amount of registered Republicans in WV.

[nyy1998]

1. If he were to win, who'd replace him as gov?

[Rhythm]

2. That's being discussed right now, but no one has a clear answer

From an article about a month ago in the Charleston Gazette-Mail:

If Manchin wins his bid for Senate in November, West Virginia's law and constitution say that the Senate president -- currently Logan County Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin -- would take over as governor while also keeping his legislative post.

But the rules are ambiguous when it comes to how long Tomblin -- who was already considering a 2012 run for governor -- could serve.

The law says that if a governor leaves within the first three years of the term, the state must hold a new election to fill the vacancy.

State code sets no timeline for such an election, said Tim Leach, an attorney in Secretary of State Natalie Tennant's office.

"That might be subject to some different interpretation or confusion," he said.

Tomblin told the Gazette Wednesday that he believes the succession law is clear, and said constitutional lawyers have advised him the state would not need to hold an election until the regularly scheduled one in 2012.

http://wvgazette.com/News/201007210756

[nyy1998]

3. Ah interesting ty

How is Tomblin? Would anyone here know?

[MadAnne]

5. Conservative Dem like Manchin

He's made a lot of money from greyhounds. He's from coal country and will be a supportor of the industry as will Manchin.

[underpants]

4. Manchin is a good guy

he would be a great Senator

[Rhythm]

6. Eh... not so much.

Manchin is a corporatist DINO, and a shameless opportunist. He's also in the pocket of Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy.
Ya know, the fellow who gave the orders to the folks at the Upper Big Branch mine that, 'if it's between safety and running coal, run the coal...'

I'll be voting Mountain Party in November.