WV 2006

by Jerome Armstrong, Sun Aug 07, 2005 at 07:05:38 PM EDT

Hey, I raised enough to pay for the new front-end server cost of MyDD, so for all the friends of MyDD out there, thank you for helping out the effort.

For those of you who didn't get the chance to contribute, I'll refer you to helping out Senator Byrd in West Virginia, who's running blogads throughout the network, raising the money to make a response ad to the slime put out by the DC Republicans. You can read about the latest back and forth here.

The Republican Rep. Capito is likely to run against Sen Byrd, given the ad buys by the Republicans, and Byrd is responding in turn. Byrd holds about a 10 point lead according to both sides recent polling. Byrd is our truth-teller, and will nail Capito to the wall over her pro-privatization statements in support of Bush's attempt to dismantle Social Security.

The entrance of Capito into the US Senate race would also open up the toss-up 2nd CD of WV, where ex-state party chair Mike Callaghan is ready to gain the seat for Democrats.

Tags: Senate 2006 (all tags)

Comments

23 Comments

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Two for one
If Capito runs against Byrd I think we get both, Byrd wins AND we pick up her seat in Congress.  Your call on this is absolutely right IMHO.
by Demo Dan in Dayton 2005-08-07 11:15PM | 0 recs
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Re: Two for one
yeah, that'd be great. In fact, even if Byrd were to retire this seat might lean Democratic, as Democrats still dominate every level of West Virginia government.

I know this may sound like Georgia four years ago, but I'm just saying...I mean, West Virginia's new Governor was elected fresh in 2004 with 63% of the vote or something like that, while the state legislature is still overwhelmingly Democratic. West Virginians seem to have a thing for Bush, but are yet to abandon their roots on the state level (unlike their neighbors in Virginia and Kentucky).

by raginillinoian 2005-08-08 12:14AM | 0 recs
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Retire, Senator Byrd...........
..........please.  
by pat0704 2005-08-07 11:37PM | 0 recs
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Re: Retire, Senator Byrd...........
Do NOT retire Senator Byrd, please.  He's not all roses and has a checkered past to be sure, but he knows how to fight, he's usually right on the issues, and he has a respect for the institution that is rare and valuable in either caucus.  This will be his last term, but I'd like to see him there at least until the Democrats regain control of the Senate.
by arenwin 2005-08-07 11:44PM | 0 recs
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Re: Retire, Senator Byrd...........
Dumb Dumb Dumb

Turn on CSPAN once in a while!

by www deadissue com 2005-08-07 11:59PM | 0 recs
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Re: Retire, Senator Byrd...........
sometimes i think the same way. not my favorite senator but i think he's gotten wiser with age. i think he'll win easy so why replace him yet.
by Commander in Chimp 2005-08-09 04:27AM | 0 recs
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Gazette-Mail article
This is an intriguing note from the linked Gazette-Mail article:

In a press release, Byrd called the GOP message "slick out-of-state ads" that use trickery and falsehoods.

Rupp called that a good response, noting West Virginians don't like non-state residents being involved in their elections. "Don't look at the messages, look at who's picking up the tab," he said.

Do y'all buy this? Because if true, it sounds a note of caution regarding how the out-of-state blogosphere involves itself in the 2nd CD race.

by arenwin 2005-08-07 11:47PM | 0 recs
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Any WV political blogs out there?
For some reason, I don't think Archpundit or Colorado Luis will be covering these races.-) I was born in central WV, but I haven't lived there for 18 years, so I have questions:
  • What are the depths of the respective party benches?
  • How does Capito play outside of her Rep-friendly district?
Years ago, the most Republican areas of WV seemed to be Charleston and the Eastern Panhandle. Although the 3 Gs seem to have moved WV rightward, Manchin still won handily.
Just trying to get a feel for the political terrain there now.
by BCHS 1980 2005-08-07 11:47PM | 0 recs
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Re: Any WV political blogs out there?
AWESOME W. VA Blog!!!

http://www.modernamerica.blogspot.com/

THE WV blog in my opinion - very much involved in supporting Senator Byrd.  

by www deadissue com 2005-08-08 12:00AM | 0 recs
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Re: Any WV political blogs out there?
I'd also recomment Back Porch Politics. It's a more recent addition to the blogosphere, has a daily run down of the WV politics stories in the WV papers, and occaisional commentary.

For the conservative side, he's wacky, he's ascerbic, he's mostly wrong, but Don Surber is a resource for the other side.

You may also check out Gary Abernathy's site. The former State GOP Chair's part self-promotion of his book on the 2004 elections, part commentary on the state of affairs of WV politics today is worth a moment. He's intriguing in that he does not believe the GOP should run anyone seriously against Byrd.

And please, it's early. Try not to flame-rate me for having the temerity to suggest GOP or right-leaning sites. They're information. They let you know what's going on in WV politics. Use it or don't.

by fng 2005-08-08 08:22AM | 0 recs
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Correct Abernathy link
Goofed on the Gary Abernathy link.
by fng 2005-08-08 12:09PM | 0 recs
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Re: Any WV political blogs out there?
Thanks for the suggestions above, both for our side and the GOP. I may even get The Elephant Wars, simply to see how a party who can easily take the Presidential race is apparently still pretty impotent at the lower levels. BTW check out http://www.getelephantwars.com/ today. Abernathy has an anti-evolution screed that reminds me of the Daily Mail letters to the editor of my youth.
by BCHS 1980 2005-08-08 11:54AM | 0 recs
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Might Need Plan B
Byrd will be 89 in November 2006 - which is still more than a year away. While he may well run, and would be the favorite if he did, it's certainly possible that he could retire, or that health problems might prevent him from running. Some thought on how the seat could be held in an open seat race might be in order, too.
by SLinVA 2005-08-08 12:06AM | 0 recs
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Re: Might Need Plan B
Read my post above. If Byrd retired, veteran Reps. Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall might be interested.

Interestingly, West Virginia is one of the last remaining southern states (along with Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina) run by Democrats. They have a new Democratic Governor, elected fresh in 2004 in a landslide, and a heavily Democratic legislature.

The problem would be keeping Mollohan's and Rahall's seats in Dem hands...but a state legislator could do that.

by raginillinoian 2005-08-08 12:16AM | 0 recs
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Re: Might Need Plan B
While West Virginia has been strongly Democratic, Bush carried the state in 2000, and won by 13% in 2004. Capito has been pretty popular despite what seems like fairly stiff Democratic opposition, just judging by the TV ads that ran in the Washington, DC area. I think an open seat race would be a toss-up at this point.
by SLinVA 2005-08-09 12:56AM | 0 recs
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Re: Might Need Plan B
Thank you...

Dems need to open their eyes and tell Byrd it is time to go. Give him a prestigious position in some organization. But he will lose... on his age, because there is no way he will live out another 6 year term.

Someone has to have some balls and tell him to step down and endorse a younger candidate... or we will have the same "Gray Davis" scenario and lose the seat altogether.

by Parker 2005-08-08 04:11AM | 0 recs
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Re: Might Need Plan B
Nobody's won purely on the issue of "My Opponent will Die"

Robert Byrd doesn't appear to be slowing down. Especially when you compare him to Strom Thurmond, who lived to 100.

Byrd running should give out a lesson to Democrats on how to run with a backbone.

Also, as long as the Democrats have the Governor's office in West Virginia, that's reassuring.

by RBH 2005-08-08 05:09PM | 0 recs
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He's not retiring
He's Rehnquist-he'll retire when he's dead.  If he was retiring, he wouldn't have that blogad on this site, would he?
by Geotpf 2005-08-08 12:27PM | 0 recs
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Re: Might Need Plan B
I think a Mollohan run would be unlikely and a Rahall run would be even more unlikely. Gov. Manchin wants the seat for himself so if Byrd were to suddenly announce his retirement he'd be really ... well, that's something to keep in mind if that happens. But it's very unlikely that Byrd won't run. If some how that does come to pass though ... I would expect that you'd see a candidacy by either former Gov. Gaston Caperton (who's deservedly highly respected) or Caperton's son.
by ScottC 2005-08-08 02:54PM | 0 recs
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Re: Might Need Plan B
so what if he's old. he is still sound of mind and thats all he needs to be a senator. age is not a good reason to axe this man. i am an old man myself but still think well enough.
by Commander in Chimp 2005-08-09 04:29AM | 0 recs
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I don't see why she would run
her House seat is pretty safe, and she can just wait six years until Byrd retires. she'd be in a much better position then. if she runs now, she's risking her entire political career.
by johnny longtorso 2005-08-08 09:42AM | 0 recs
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it is better if Bryd stay in...
this is a trending Republican state in presidential politics and the Reps. are just waiting for Bryd to say he will retire  so they can take his seat think about it who do you think as a better shot a Strong 7-term Democrat who has stood up for the poor in and working people in WV or a Democratic house rep. from a Democratic part of the state.  Bryd will win in a close margin i just can't see him loseing and i belive he said at some point that he will stay in the senate as long as he lives or somthing like that -if Bryd does retire let it be in 6 years when the gov. is out and can take the spot right now i don't see a strong Dem. to hold it.
by Liberal 2005-08-08 09:04PM | 0 recs
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WV's Favorite Son
Don't be too quick to criticize Robert C. Byrd, especially when it comes to age. He's carried every county in West Virginia in his past two elections and his amazing Senate skills have funneled trillions of dollars into the state for various projects. West Virginians know they can't afford to do without him. If anything, his age helps him. Everywhere you go in WV, you see Robert C. Byrd's name:

Robert C. Byrd Drive
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University
Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Laboratory of West Virginia University
Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College
Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center
Robert C. Byrd Bridge
Robert C. Byrd Addition to the Lodge at Oglebay Park
Robert C. Byrd Community Center
Robert C. Byrd Expressway
Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing
Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building & Courthouse, Charleston
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building & Courthouse, Beckley
Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center at Marshall University
Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University
Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center
Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex
(For his wife) Erma Ora Byrd Conference & Learning Center
Robert C. Byrd Metals Fabrication Center
Robert C. Byrd Library & Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center at Mountain State University
Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center at Marshall University
Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to Veteran's Hospital
Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park
Robert C. Byrd Locks & Dam
Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope
Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center at Shepherd College
Robert C. Byrd High School
Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center at Marshall University
Robert C. Byrd Conference Center at Davis & Elkins College
Robert C. Byrd Health and Wellness Center of Bethany College
Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center
Robert C. Byrd Appalachian Highway System
(for his wife) Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University

by YellowDog2000 2005-08-09 11:12AM | 0 recs

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