Talk Elections

Three days.

Jesse Johnson looks like the only non-conservative candidate in this lineup. 

Manchin (normal)

Manchin.

Johnson.

Probably Manchin.

Raese comparing smoking restrictions to the Holocaust was just a bit too much for me when Manchin is a socially moderate Democrat who seems to actually vote that way.

Jesse Johnson

Is Jesse Johnson actually that leftist, or is he just leftist for West Virginia (i.e. not that much)?

Also, I hate these because I always forget about them before the results are in.

Manchin. Raese is an unelectable perennial candidate and Manchin is the sort of Dem I'm comfortable voting at the state level.

Manchin, reluctantly. I wouldn't give a US Senate seat to an unqualified activist, even if I agree with him on more issues.

Manchin, though I would normally vote for the Constitution Party candidate.

Johnson campaigned for the Green Party nomination in 2008, so that makes him, in my opinion, a leftist.

Joe Manchin.

So you would still support Manchin even if he is likely to switch parties the minute it looks as if the Republicans could take over the Senate? 

Johnson

Probably Becker, if not him, then Manchin. Raese is a loon.

In unlikely event of the race being close, Manchin. I'm not a fan of him, but demonizing him by many Democrats is kind of annoying. It's almost always better to have a Blue Dog Democrat than Mr. Generic Republican, especially as dumb as Raese.

Otherwise, I'd vote for Johnson.

Joe Manchin is likely to switch parties in the event Republicans take over the Senate, but regardless of whether he is a Democrat or becomes a Republican, of the choices presented he is the best option West Virginia has.  And he would make a far better Republican than Raese.

Manchin.

Johnson (sane) especially since hindsight is 20/20 and Machin was pathetic during the lame duck session in 2010, even so today.

Depends on the circumstances. I'll vote 3rd party this time but as Raese looked like he could actually win in 2010, probably Manchin unfortunately.

I'm not so sure about this. West Virginia really do like conservative Democrats. Why would Manchin join pretty pathetic thing statewide WV GOP is?

Manchin

He wouldn't be the first pioneering southern Democrat to switch parties (see Thurmond, Strom), and considering everything he has said and done recently (and the fact that certain high-profile Republicans are supporting him), all the evidence is pointing in the direction of an opportunistic party switch.  That isn't to rule out Manchin becoming an independent, though...

Very true, though I firmly believe he will stick with the D's. He has taken a very postpartisan approach to legislating; he seems to direct his criticism at both parties.

I would have supported Raese, if he had not acted like a ignorant tool. That ad the Manchin campaign ran of him shooting the cap-and-trade bill to look more independent, or whatever he was going for, was hilariously repugnant and a dreadfully obvious pander worthy of populist scorn.

And why would he do that? That's even dumber scenario than him becoming a Republican.

Surprising performance for Becker.

Raese.