West Virginia Megathread

[Orser67]

McGeehan seems like a Paulite. I wonder how that will play in WV? I'd be pretty skeptical if Rand Paul hadn't won in Kentucky in 2010.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I think that the GOP is counting some chickens before they hatch in WV.  The Democratic establishment there does not wish to go the way of Arkansas.  They have been better in separating the state Democratic party from the national party than other states.  Let's also not forget that (A) West Virginia did not secede and has few blacks, so the racial issues of, say, Alabama do not apply here, and (B) West Virginia went Democratic for DUKAKIS!?!?! in 1988 and Clinton twice.  I think that Tennant is the favorite in 2014 if the election is not overly nationalized.

[MalaspinaGold]

Seems that Tennant may be announcing tomorrow|http://www.dailymail.com/News/statehouse/201309150064

This should be a fun race to watch... hopefully she doesn't pull a Brian Schweitzer.

[Miles]

And Tennant's site is up!

[hurricanehink]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/09/17/tennant-west-virginia-senate-capito/2825429/ - USAToday.com has it too. Neat quote there.

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[Bacon King]

I have absolutely nothing solid to base this on but my hunch is that Tennant wins big. She's twice won over 60% with Obama at the top of the ticket plus there's probably a reason Capito turned down great opportunities. Has she ever even had a competitive election? Plus the vibe I've always gotten from her "star status" is paper tiger inside-the-beltway hype.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

I have absolutely nothing solid to base this on but my hunch is that Tennant wins big. She's twice won over 60% with Obama at the top of the ticket plus there's probably a reason Capito turned down great opportunities. Has she ever even had a competitive election? Plus the vibe I've always gotten from her "star status" is paper tiger inside-the-beltway hype.

If Walsh gets in we will have a net loss of minimum 2 seats, SD and Ark.

[Miles]

PPP is offering WV as a polling option.

Its winning, but ya'll should vote for it anyway.

[illegaloperation]

PPP is offering WV as a polling option.

Its winning, but ya'll should vote for it anyway.

Yes, we need a good pollster on this race.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I have absolutely nothing solid to base this on but my hunch is that Tennant wins big. She's twice won over 60% with Obama at the top of the ticket plus there's probably a reason Capito turned down great opportunities. Has she ever even had a competitive election? Plus the vibe I've always gotten from her "star status" is paper tiger inside-the-beltway hype.

If Walsh gets in we will have a net loss of minimum 2 seats, SD and Ark.

Arkansas is not gone by any remote stretch of the imagination.  Montana will be tougher, even with Walsh.  Only South Dakota is really gone, right now.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Daines, I haven't been sold on. Tester was the most vulnerable inc out there. MnT have had consecutive democratic win streaks.

[ElectionsGuy]

Tennant seeks to distance herself and Obama on coal/environment.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/west-virginia-senate-2014-natalie-tennant-coal-west-virginia-obama-96946.html

[Miles]

^ Good. She can't start that soon enough.

[badgate]

^ Good. She can't start that soon enough.

Especially considering what's happening tomorrow.

[DINGO Joe]

Will she embrace WV fastest growing industry, or will she just drool like the rest of them.

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=12311

[Miles]

Well, we saw this coming:

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[tmthforu94]

A vote for Tennant is a vote for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is committed to fighting the coal industry. Capito will have to spin it this way.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

plus there's probably a reason Capito turned down great opportunities.

She has daddy issues. Of course most of those opportunities were not actually 'great' at all...

[illegaloperation]

A vote for Tennant is a vote for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is committed to fighting the coal industry. Capito will have to spin it this way.

Isn't that what Republicans do with every Democratic senatorial candidate running in red states?

"A vote for [insert name here] is a vote for Harry Reid."

[windjammer]

A vote for Tennant is a vote for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is committed to fighting the coal industry. Capito will have to spin it this way.

Isn't that what Republicans do with every Democratic senatorial candidate running in red states?

"A vote for [insert name here] is a vote for Harry Reid."

And it works (a)

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

I do believe if the GOP fail to capture the senate these tossups will go our way. Tennant isn't going away anytime soon as she is close behind.

[Miles]

This is probably to be expected:

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I can see his overall approval being something like 29/59.

[windjammer]

This is probably to be expected:

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I can see his overall approval being something like 29/59.

Not a surprise .

[Rocky Rockefeller]

Capito's up 14 points 50/36 as per PPP.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/09/capito-starts-out-ahead-in-wv-senate-race.html

[windjammer]

But it's a problem of name recognition. Republicans are favored but this race will be closer; lean republican.