fyi, paul 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Emily Diamond-Falk <emily_diamond-falk@tws.org>
Date: Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Subject: Article from E&E News on WV Senate race
To: Birth Place of Rivers <birthplaceofrivers@tws.org>

CAMPAIGN 2014:

W.Va. Dems hopeful of finding pro-coal candidate to follow Rockefeller

Manuel Quinones, E&E reporter

Published: Tuesday, June 4, 2013

West Virginia Democrats are expressing optimism about their chances of replacing retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller with another Democrat in next year's election, despite their apparent difficulty in tapping a strong candidate.

Yesterday, well-known West Virginia radio talk show host Hoppy Kercheval raised eyebrows when he reported that Charleston attorney Nick Preservati -- who had been called a potential "unicorn" candidate and an electable pro-coal Democrat -- would not jump into the race because of family reasons.

Preservati did not return a call to confirm his intentions in time for publication. But news that he would likely not be running sparked observers in West Virginia and Washington, D.C., to chatter about the party's uphill climb against Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, who announced her intention to run even before Rockefeller announced his retirement.

"I think with or without Preservati, this was looking like a really difficult hold for Democrats," said Nathan Gonzalez, campaign analyst with the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, which has the West Virginia Senate race leaning in favor of the Republicans.

Gonzalez said Democrats "were excited about Preservati and his family's connection to the coal industry, but the political reality is that it's going to take a special Democratic candidate to win in West Virginia in the second midterm of President Obama in the White House."

West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Larry Puccio brushed off claims that the party was in dire straits in its efforts to find a candidate.

"The truth of the matter is, we have a couple of individuals who we believe will have a positive announcement in the near future," Puccio said in an interview.

One name that keeps popping up is West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, a former journalist who has worked to increase her statewide profile. She came in third in a 2011 primary for governor.

Puccio, while not revealing names of candidates who have expressed their interest to run, said support for the state's coal industry was an important test of electability.

"I think that's extremely important in this state," said Puccio. "And I will tell you, of the candidates who have spoken to me, they are all extremely supportive of coal in West Virginia."

In recent days, attorney Ralph Baxter, the former CEO of global law firm Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP and a West Virginia native, also decided against taking on Capito.

Republicans were already painting Baxter as too liberal for West Virginia and highlighting his connections to San Francisco, where the firm is headquartered.

Former state GOP Chairman Mike Stuart told Kercheval on West Virginia MetroNews "Talkline" that Baxter's background was "frankly not in tune with most of the people in West Virginia." Stuart said Baxter would have spent "millions of his own dollars and [have lost] badly."

George Carenbauer, former state Democratic chairman, shot back, saying that Capito's record is "not necessarily a record that fits well with the average West Virginian." He mentioned Medicare, likely referring to Capito's vote for the GOP budget plan that would rework the system.

Democrats control the West Virginia Legislature and the governor's mansion. There are more registered Democrats than registered Republicans in the state. Plus, along with touting their support for the state's coal industry, Democrats generally also tend to favor strong worker protections, endearing them to the United Mine Workers union.

"Yeah, Democrats can get elected, but those state offices are built around a completely different set of issues," said Gonzalez, noting that when it comes to federal elections, Mountain State voters want to see candidates who can prove their independence from more liberal national Democrats and an unpopular Obama.

Popular Sen. Joe Manchin has emerged as a model for an electable West Virginia Democrat at the national level. Many observers called Preservati, who has represented the coal companies and has family connections to the industry, another "Joe Manchin."

But even though some Democrats think Preservati's lack of an electoral record is a good thing, Gonzalez said, "Joe Manchin didn't just develop his political profile a year before his election to the Senate. He was a two-term governor who also ran a good campaign."

Rep. Nick Rahall, a Democrat serving his 19th term in the House, mulled a Senate run but decided against it earlier this year. He may face a tough race of his own for re-election.

"West Virginia has lost a tremendous amount of seniority already with the loss of Sen. [Robert] Byrd and [soon to retire] Sen. Rockefeller," said Rahall in a recent interview. "And I felt that for the best interests of the state of West Virginia and its people, that my seniority should stay in the House of Representatives."

Addressing his party's Senate prospects, Rahall said, "We'll come up with a good candidate that can attract sufficient votes. The seat, I believe, can be won by a good, strong Democrat who backs our coal industry and would continue to diversify our economy and has experience in those areas."

 

 

Emily Diamond-Falk

Communications Manager

The Wilderness Society | Washington, DC

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