WV-GOV: Manchin to decide by summer

[RogueBeaver]

Late spring, early summer. Says past 4 years have been most unproductive of his working life.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

I wish he'd stay in the Senate.  We need people like him in Washington.

With the GOP now controlling the Senate, he may have a more sympathetic ear for coal interests.

[IceSpear]

Now that the WV legislature is controlled by Republicans, what's the point?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I wish he'd stay in the Senate.  We need people like him in Washington.

With the GOP now controlling the Senate, he may have a more sympathetic ear for coal interests.

[ElectionsGuy]

Now that the WV legislature is controlled by Republicans, what's the point?

He could certainly slim down the chance of them taking the governorship, as I'd imagine he'd be more popular as a statewide official than a federal official. And don't you think WV Republicans are easier to comprise with than Washington Republicans?

[RogueBeaver]

Morrissey considering.

[free my dawg]

Either way he seems like he's out of the Senate, one way or another, by 2018.

[Türkisblau]

Now that the WV legislature is controlled by Republicans, what's the point?

He could certainly slim down the chance of them taking the governorship, as I'd imagine he'd be more popular as a statewide official than a federal official. And don't you think WV Republicans are easier to comprise with than Washington Republicans?

The point is that he can't govern the way he wants in D.C. and going back to WV won't change anything because he will run into the Republican wall in the legislature.

I think he should pass up WV-Gov and cede it to the pubs, then run for reelection in 2018. He's doing great work in the senate.

[Kraxner]

Now that the WV legislature is controlled by Republicans, what's the point?

He could certainly slim down the chance of them taking the governorship, as I'd imagine he'd be more popular as a statewide official than a federal official. And don't you think WV Republicans are easier to comprise with than Washington Republicans?

The point is that he can't govern the way he wants in D.C. and going back to WV won't change anything because he will run into the Republican wall in the legislature.

Republican West Virginians and Democrat West Virginians are basically the same in all but name. West Virginia is very conservative, few democrats in west virginia are fit the standard costal liberal types. And the rise of republicans in the state legislatures is only because of a backlash against the National democrat party's Obama , taking actions that harm the economic wellbeing of the state. Otherwise Manchin could work very well with the republicans in his state.

[Nichlemn]

It's also not completely implausible that Manchin could lead the WV legislative Democrats back into majorities (though the House got pretty heavily Republican in 2014).

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Late spring, early summer. Says past 4 years have been most unproductive of his working life.

Yeah Democrats need every Senate seat we can get, Manchin is useless other than as a vote for Democratic control of the Senate so he better keep his ass seated in his Senate seat.

[Frodo]

It's also not completely implausible that Manchin could lead the WV legislative Democrats back into majorities (though the House got pretty heavily Republican in 2014).

The same way that Governor Steve Beshear took back the Kentucky Senate for Democrats?  Or how Gov. Jay Nixon took back the Missouri legislature? 

Face it, West Virginia is gone.  He may be able to hold back the tide a little by keeping the governor's mansion in Democratic hands, but after he leaves office, watch the WV GOP consolidate its gains at every level in the state. 

[Nichlemn]

It's also not completely implausible that Manchin could lead the WV legislative Democrats back into majorities (though the House got pretty heavily Republican in 2014).

The same way that Governor Steve Beshear took back the Kentucky Senate for Democrats?  Or how Gov. Jay Nixon took back the Missouri legislature? 

Face it, West Virginia is gone.  He may be able to hold back the tide a little by keeping the governor's mansion in Democratic hands, but after he leaves office, watch the WV GOP consolidate its gains at every level in the state. 

Democrats managed to regain the MS state senate in 2007 before losing it again (probably for good this time). I don't think it's implausible WV Dems could get one last hurrah before partisan gravity sinks them for good.

[Maxwell]

It's also not completely implausible that Manchin could lead the WV legislative Democrats back into majorities (though the House got pretty heavily Republican in 2014).

The same way that Governor Steve Beshear took back the Kentucky Senate for Democrats?  Or how Gov. Jay Nixon took back the Missouri legislature? 

Face it, West Virginia is gone.  He may be able to hold back the tide a little by keeping the governor's mansion in Democratic hands, but after he leaves office, watch the WV GOP consolidate its gains at every level in the state. 

Democrats managed to regain the MS state senate in 2007 before losing it again (probably for good this time). I don't think it's implausible WV Dems could get one last hurrah before partisan gravity sinks them for good.

but Haley Barbour was Governor. Generally, when one party leads, the other party gains, so I think West Virginia Democrat losses get worse if Joe Manchin is Governor.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

Should stay senator.

[Xing]

I think there's a chance that Democrats could hold the Governor's mansion if Manchin doesn't run, but if he doesn't run for senate in 2018, that seat is 120% gone. So I'd obviously rather he stayed in the senate, even though he's far from my favorite senator.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Democrats need every Senate seat we can get, even a horrible right-winger like Joe Manchin. Manchin's only use is as a vote for Dem control of the Senate.

He would be useless as governor. Who cares about who the governor of West Virginia is? It's an insignificant state and it clearly wants Republicans to hold any office that isn't held by Joe Manchin.

[Kraxner]

Democrats need every Senate seat we can get, even a horrible right-winger like Joe Manchin. Manchin's only use is as a vote for Dem control of the Senate.

He would be useless as governor. Who cares about who the governor of West Virginia is? It's an insignificant state and it clearly wants Republicans to hold any office that isn't held by Joe Manchin.

I'm gotta make a bold prediction, he's gonna get Blanche Lincolned in 2018 if he tries to run for re-election in that senate seat.

[free my dawg]

Democrats need every Senate seat we can get, even a horrible right-winger like Joe Manchin. Manchin's only use is as a vote for Dem control of the Senate.

He would be useless as governor. Who cares about who the governor of West Virginia is? It's an insignificant state and it clearly wants Republicans to hold any office that isn't held by Joe Manchin.

I'm gotta make a bold prediction, he's gonna get Blanche Lincolned in 2018 if he tries to run for re-election in that senate seat.

Considering the trend WV is going, it's not exactly that bold. In fact, it's more likely to happen than not in the off chance that he runs.

[Senate Minority Leader Lord Voldemort]

Democrats need every Senate seat we can get, even a horrible right-winger like Joe Manchin. Manchin's only use is as a vote for Dem control of the Senate.

He would be useless as governor. Who cares about who the governor of West Virginia is? It's an insignificant state and it clearly wants Republicans to hold any office that isn't held by Joe Manchin.

I'm gotta make a bold prediction, he's gonna get Blanche Lincolned in 2018 if he tries to run for re-election in that senate seat.

Considering the trend WV is going, it's not exactly that bold. In fact, it's more likely to happen than not in the off chance that he runs.

He may very well lose, but I don't think he'll be Blanched. He seems to have a personal relationship with the state that Lincoln never seemed to have.

[Maxwell]

Manchin probably won't be Blanched. If he does lose, which is very possible, it won't be by a significant margin - I think it'll be closer to Mark Begich margins. Just as long as he doesn't run an idiot Mark Pryor campaign.

[Senate Minority Leader Lord Voldemort]

Manchin probably won't be Blanched. If he does lose, which is very possible, it won't be by a significant margin - I think it'll be closer to Mark Begich margins. Just as long as he doesn't run an idiot Mark Pryor campaign.

This too.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It's also not completely implausible that Manchin could lead the WV legislative Democrats back into majorities (though the House got pretty heavily Republican in 2014).

The same way that Governor Steve Beshear took back the Kentucky Senate for Democrats?  Or how Gov. Jay Nixon took back the Missouri legislature? 

Face it, West Virginia is gone.  He may be able to hold back the tide a little by keeping the governor's mansion in Democratic hands, but after he leaves office, watch the WV GOP consolidate its gains at every level in the state. 

Well, somehow the Kentucky House of Representatives stayed Democrat.

[BaconBacon96]

Nah I don't think Manchin would lose if he ran for reelection. Thing is he's not going to run, he clearly doesn't like the Senate. May as well hold onto the Governor's mansion for as long as we can.

[Nichlemn]

Democrats need every Senate seat we can get, even a horrible right-winger like Joe Manchin. Manchin's only use is as a vote for Dem control of the Senate.

He would be useless as governor. Who cares about who the governor of West Virginia is? It's an insignificant state and it clearly wants Republicans to hold any office that isn't held by Joe Manchin.

I'm gotta make a bold prediction, he's gonna get Blanche Lincolned in 2018 if he tries to run for re-election in that senate seat.

It's only two years since he won with over 60% of the vote, and Obama will be out of office then. I think he's the favourite, although he'll very likely to sweat a real race.