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WV-Sen: WaPo Sources Say Capito Won't Run

by: DavidNYC

Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 12:12 AM EDT


Good news if true:

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) has decided she will not run to replace Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), three sources familiar with her plans said Tuesday night.

Capito was the favorite on the GOP side, and state legislators gained a concession in a special-election bill passed Monday that would have allowed her to run for both reelection and in the Senate race at the same time.

But, even with that fallback plan, sources tell The Fix that the she has opted not to run.

Wonder who they'll put up against Joe "The Manchine" Manchin. While I know the GOP's bench in West Virginia is notoriously weak, nonetheless it'll be kind of amazing if they can't make anything out of this opportunity in such a good year for them - especially in a state so implacably hostile to Obama and national Democrats. Anyhow, assuming Capito makes this official, we plan to rate this race as "Likely D."
DavidNYC :: WV-Sen: WaPo Sources Say Capito Won't Run
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WV-Sen: WaPo Sources Say Capito Won't Run | 86 comments
To whom said it earlier
Someone (I think it was GOPVoter) said Manchin had to declare early and fast, get ahead of Capito to keep her from building ANY momentum on this. He did that, looks like it may have scared her off fast enough

I think this was the right read and congratulate you on the perception.

26, Male, Democrat, TX-26

may have been me
Not sure. I've said a lot on this race in the past few days. I guarantee Raese will be the nominee. While this is terrible for us, there is always a silver lining. I'm hoping Manchin will relax a little without Capito. Also, Raese will probably be able to spend enough so the NRSC does not have to spend as much. Also, since they will not think Raese has as good a shot, they will not invest as heavily. Its still bad for us though. Hopefully Raese has the ability to heavily outspend Manchin, because that's the only way he wins. I wonder if Capito got advanced word (from Raese) that he would primary her, and knew that if there was a primary, she could not win the general. I'm thinking thats it, because I think thats the only way she would not run after Hall got that amendment put in for her (it also stood to benefit him).  
[ Parent ]
Why Raese?
Did Betty White Betty Ireland back out already?

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
IDK
She's never really been talked about. If she's considering it, its a huge secret. She hasn't spoken to the media or any one about it. When Cornyn mentioned candidates in an interview Friday, he only said Capito and Raese. I think Ireland may be eyeing Capito's house seat. Cornyn today said his backup is "someone who's run statewide before" NOT someone who's won statewide office before.  
[ Parent ]
Not after what happened in Massachusetts
No Democrat in the short term will be relaxing after that disaster.  The DSCC won't let them.

 

[ Parent ]
Like I commented before, you thought Manchin would be the one scared off! Capito is a cluckity chicken......
She gets to keep her House seat and still take a flyer on a Senate run just in case lightning strikes for her, and STILL she's so scared she makes Chicken Little look like Rambo.

You won't have to worry about how to make it so "the NRSC does not have to spend as much."  They're going to spend NOTHING on this race, nor will the DSCC.  Or, at least I'm presuming the NRSC won't blow anything on this.  You're lucky the NRSC is heads and shoulders above the NRCC and RNC in political smarts, or else they'd blow half their cash-on-hand on this race.

43, male, Indian-American, Democrat, VA-10

[ Parent ]
I don't really think it was cowardly, just good political strategy
Why would Capito run a race in which she has (generously) a 20% chance of winning and potentially damage herself for what would otherwise be a likely slam-dunk victory for Gov or Senate when Rockefeller retires? She probably figured to keep her powder dry and make a stronger run for another statewide office later
[ Parent ]
"Likely slam-dunk victory"??? That's just silly......
Manchin is a sitting Governor with 70% job approval, and people are are reluctant to rate this Senate special as "safe Dem."

Capito is a Congresswoman representing only one-third of the state, has never held statewide office, and her district is more Republican than the rest of the state.  But somehow she's a "slam dunk" for Governor or Senate in an upcoming regular cycle?

And what "damage" could she possibly suffer from a 3-month-plus campaign that ends in an expected defeat to Manchin?  The only way it hurts her is if she loses the special primary, or if she runs a bad campaign, or some personal scandal comes out, and all of these things just signal something very wrong with her that reveal big weaknesses that we'd see no matter what in future campaigns for Governor or Senate.  On the flip side, she could run and lose this November, but keep the margin respectable at 10-15 points or so, which wouldn't hurt her at all because it's no worse than people expect.

Really, her decision not to run itself just shows she's not as strong a candidate as SSPers are making her out to be.

43, male, Indian-American, Democrat, VA-10

[ Parent ]
This user
MIJunkie is a bit of a GOP optimist or troll, depending on your point of view.  S/he regularly calls races for Repubs as "slam dunks" which are at best tossups.  
[ Parent ]
I
think the user was saying that Capito would have a likely or slam dunk victory if she runs for Governor or runs for an open seat in 2014.  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
Even then its kind of ridiculous
There's no way a Republican who's never won statewide in WV is a slam dunk or even anything more than a slight favorite.  Even if its an open seat race.

If Rockefeller retires midterm, it will be far enough in the future so he can allow Dems to sort out a predecessor.  If he decides not to seek another term, I'd still put money on the person who wins the Dem primary.

Honestly, WV likes their politicians.  Just becuase she has high approvals means nothing.  Which WV incumbent currently has low approvals (Statewide or Sen or House etc.)?  I can't find any really.  Heck their attorney general, a position I'm not sure the power of in WV, has been elected 5 times in row.  

[ Parent ]
Yes, I know that, and that's exactly what I was responding to. As I said...
...in my comment, I was responding to the notion that Capito was a "slam dunk" in an "upcoming regular cycle."  I had an open governorship or open Senate seat in mind when I wrote that.

43, male, Indian-American, Democrat, VA-10
[ Parent ]
Sorry
I did not read it close enough.  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
I agree wholeheartedly
Capito is to Republican's in West Virginia what Brad Carson was to Dem's when he ran for Senate in OK.  He was pretty much the only person Dem's had who wanted to try and move up.  He was the only Dem Congressman in a state that has now becoem the most Republican in the country in presidential elections and not that friendly to Dem's in the other federal elections.  

I still am not so sure Capito wants to move up.  I know 99% of politicians want to advance their careers, but I just don't know that she wants to be Senator or Governor.

I have never heard her say she wanted to take down Byrd, Rockefeller (and now) Manchin.  She seems comfy where she is.  It'd be different if her stated goal was to be governor or Senate, but from what I can tell those words haven't been uttered by her.

[ Parent ]
I think your right
About being comfy where she is. She's moving up in House leadership, and maybe thats where she wants to be.  
[ Parent ]
Looks like were wrong
http://twitter.com/FixAaron/st...
She aspires to be a Senator.  
[ Parent ]
Especially
When she is facing a primary. With a primary, it would be impossible for her to win.  
[ Parent ]
Can Raese's spending help
I mean WV is fairly cheap to run in, isn't it?  Wouldn't Manchin be able to stay competiive with just normal fundraising, regardless of what Raese tried to do?
[ Parent ]
Bet ya
Cornyn is having at NRSC headquarters pray Manchin is the second coming of Martha Coakley. Luckily (hopefully) Manchin's going to work his butt off to earn the right to succeed Byrd.

19, Male, Independent, CA-12
She's like Giuliani
She has several people close to her leak the news she is not running, then to get more attention and make people think those reports were wrong, announces she will announce her intentions at 10 AM. Makes you wonder if the reports were wrong, but you know they weren't. I guess she's gearing up for a 2011 gov run.  http://www.politico.com/news/s...
Governors race is in 2012


Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
I think
if Manchin gets elected this year there will be a special in 2011? or maybe Tomblin will just take over until 2012? not sure.

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
If Manchin wins
It may be in 2011, again depending on interpretation of the law since WV wasted this session on just senate laws instead of all. The gov law is the same as the old sen law. If Tennant is interpreting it, it will be in 2011, as it will allow her to run for gov earlier.  
[ Parent ]
And THAT is the free shot she should pursue

[ Parent ]
WV
Why in the world did the Republicans fight so hard for that exception then?  They had to have advance knowledge of this.

29/D/Male/NY-01
She is worried
About legal challenges to the amendment.  
[ Parent ]
Yeah, I don't think so
I do not buy that excuse for a second. I am thinking she does not want to get crushed.

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
I do
Because Natalie Tennant, the SoS, wants to run for gov. She would have a free shot if there is a special election in 2011, as she would not have to give up her office. She interprets the election law. She can decide if Capito gets to run for both or not.  
[ Parent ]
Possibly,
but still I think they passed it in the first place as more of a "I dare you to" type thing. I think they just thought she did not have the  you know what's to challenge Manchin and I think they were right.  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
I now think
that the GOP was trying to take a page out of the national party's playbook and just obstruct.  They want the election to be held in 2012 when they thought they would have a better chance against Manchin.  So they threw up an objection and hoped that it would bring the entire bill down and could blame the Dems for it.  Manchin called their bluff.
[ Parent ]
That makes no sense, it's a given Capito could run in the 2011 special and keep her House seat if she loses.....
Her problem in the Senate special that the new WV law solved was that the Senate special was on the same ballot with the midterms, and without a LBJ law she would have had to choose.

That doesn't apply to a gubernatorial special in 2011.  Without question Capito can run and keep her House seat if she loses.  That's what happened to Michael Capuano in MA-Sen special in 2009, where he ran and lost the Dem primary to Coakley and stayed in his House seat.  I don't think WV law can lawfully force her out of her House seat if she loses a 2011 special, I'm guessing it's probably unconstitutional.

43, male, Indian-American, Democrat, VA-10

[ Parent ]
I'm talking about the SoS
She'd rather run in 2011, that way she can run for re-election as SoS if she losed.  
[ Parent ]
OMG losed
I feel so stupid! If she LOST!
[ Parent ]
Don't feel too bad
OK, I laughed, but at least you didn't post "loosed."

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
To move the race to 2012
I now think I understand the reason why the GOP was obstructing on this law.  They really wanted the election in 2012 not 2010.  They knew that they had no chance against Manchin in 2010, but in 2012, who knows.  It is going to be much harder to take on Manchin as an incumbent in 2012.
[ Parent ]
Smart Lady
Bravo Congresswoman, I am not saying this because I am a Democrat but I honestly believe Capito just made a wise decision. First off if she was the nominee she would make it more competitive but she may not even be the nominee, she still faces a primary. Byrd's 06' opponent who hates her all but indicated who will run regardless of whether she runs or not. He is a self funder who could go negative and did you know she is pro-choice, that is going to cost her some votes no matter what. Assuming she wins the primary she would be out of funds running against the loved Governor with a ton more money then her and people would still be upset over the primary and she would be crushed. Sure it is a free pass but it is not likely she is going to win and I do not buy the argument that running statewide and losing helps a whole lot. If you are an absolute underdog who shocks everyone by running a close race then yeah but not if people will expect you to do well like her so losing would not help her at all. Plus if she runs now she depletes her bank account so she will have to start fresh if she runs for Governor in 2012 or with less of a nest egg for a 2014 run. This was a smart move and I have no doubt she still has a future statewide but this was not her year and she recognized it.  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
Gov in 2012
Doesn't matter. She couldn't use the fed funds anyway. I agree with you on Raese being a big part of her decision.  
[ Parent ]
Couldn't
she donate all of her federal funds to the state party and they could spend it on her? Either by donating it to her campaign or doing separate advertising for her expense. This is just a guess I am probably way off. Any way she may not even run for Governor she could use the money towards a 2014 run in what is likely to be an open seat.  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
I guess she could
I think thats allowed. I dont see why it wouldnt be.  
[ Parent ]
IF Manchin wins in '10, who is the Guv?
Tomblin?  And if so - would he run for re-election?

Is he good?

[ Parent ]
Tomblin
He's usually described as a typical Southern West Virginia Democrat. That's not a description that many readers of this blog are likely to be thrilled about.
[ Parent ]
Probably a stupid question
Does he have to give up his state senate seat or is this like New Jersey were Codey still served in the state senate while serving as Governor?

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
I think it is
Everything I have read says it is.  
[ Parent ]
Nice
I hate to brag (I really don't) but I did predict that she would not run the other day.

http://www.swingstateproject.c...

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  

[ Parent ]
Not that smart IMO
I don't believe she would have a chance against Rockefeller even in a bad year for the Dems in 2014.  For a small state like West Virginia, seniority in Congress is very important to bring home the bacon.  Rockefeller's 30 years in Congress would be a trump card rather than an albatross.

Capito's one and only chance to go to the Senate, IMO, is/was to beat Manchin in 2012 (or hope Rockefeller retires).      

[ Parent ]
I
am going under the assumption that Rockefeller retires. Sorry I should have said that. I absolutely agree that she would stand little chance against him.  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
Open seat
I think she's counting on that to be an open seat. Which, if its a bad cycle for Dems, I think he retires. She may also hope Manchin takes some really bad votes and loses popularity. Thats probably less likely. 2014 is her last shot at higher office if she doesn't run for gov because she will be 61 in 2014.  
[ Parent ]
If Obama is reelected
2014 is likely, but not certainly, to be a bad year for the Dems.  But even in that scenario, I think there will be a lot of pressure from the West Virginia establishment for Rockefeller to run due to his seniority and thus ability to bring home pork, which a state like West Virginia depends on.  And unless Rockefeller is ill or found to be corrupt (not likely), he will win easily simply based on seniority.
[ Parent ]
Not really
I personally think the cutoff age for running for higher office is about 70. I mean you see many people in there late sixties running nowadays. Seventy is rare but not unheard of (Libby Mitchell).  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
Yeah its definately going up
With people like Brown, Castle, Coats, Libby Mitchell, etc running. I'm not sure though that, like everyone else has said above, a state that depends on pork will want someone in the senate who may only gather about 20 yrs of seniority over a 40 yr old Carte Goodwin who can serve another 40 years.  
[ Parent ]
Speaking of which...
Do we know if Goodwin is planning to run for something after Manchin is sworn in? He lives in Capito's district, so he could run against her or in the open seat if she's elected to something else.

Some Dude, 19, Democrat, NH-02 (residence), MA-08 (college)
[ Parent ]
The
Attorney General is very old and fairly unpopular from what I can tell so he will probably not run again in 2012. That seems like a good place for Goodwin to start. If he gets elected statewide to AG then he would be a good candidate if Rockefeller retires in 2014 or down the road in 2020 as I assume Rockefeller will not run then. Or he could run for Governor down the road as well.
 

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
Seniority is a funny thing
I often wonder just how much is needed to get the pork.  Of course being in the majority helps but who can predict that 20 years out.

When I look at the current seniority in the US Senate, its kind of amazing that the class of Carper, Stabenow, Cantwell, etc are already the midpoint of seniority.  And they are in the majority.  But they dont have the power yet.  Much of this due to relatively high turnover in the senate the last 10 or so years and probably isn't likely to remain.  But really it would seem only 3-4 terms are needed to build seniority that pays off.

Its what could make Gillibrand a very powerful woman in the Senate if she stays there for a long time, she's young and is in a fiarly Democratic state.  After the November elections, she'll have seniority over about 15 senators even though she'll have been in office only 1 year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...

[ Parent ]
She'd have to get ready in a short amount of time
This would be a last minute thing, granted, she could get lots of support from GOP donors, but most people don't want to run in a statewide race against a strong opponent on such short notice.  

24, male, African-American, CA-24, Democrat. Chair of the SSP Black Caucus.
Not that I don't trust The Fix but
well I guess I won't rest easy until it comes from the lips of the lady herself, apparently tomorrow.
Quite a shocker, but in a good way.
Let me make note on this
implacably hostile to Obama and national Democrats.

Because of two issues; abortion, and cap and trade. West Virginia is too reliably supportive of its Democrats once they take conservative positions on those two issues. I have no doubt both Rahall and Olivero will win easily in November to prove this. Democrats have been unable to knock off Capito, who represents what might be arguably, the most the Democratic district in the state, due to poor recruiting, missed opportunities, and her own very moderate, centrist image; in other words the very thing that had John Raese foaming at the mouth, promising to primary her if he decided to run.

I wouldn't be worried about this guy if I were Democrats, yes he needs to be fought, and Manchin can't and won't sit on his laurels, but Raese is already a 2 time loser, with high unfavorables from his 2006 race against Byrd, where he spent 1.5 million of his money, plus significant resources from donations, to get 33.7% of the vote. He's not that rich, I mean I'd put 2-3 million at the upper limit of what he could throw away in this run.

On another note, the combined age of those two candidates would be 123 years, another sign of how in West Virginia your political career doesn't really get started until you hit your 60s, which is earlier than Hawaii, where you wait until 70 just for good measure.  

I think the most Democratic district
Would be West Virginia's 3rd district. It is the only one that voted for Gore and it has the heavily Democratic counties in southern West Virginia. The WV 2nd district though goes into the eastern part of West Virginia which is less traditionally Democratic than the rest of the state.  

for more election analysis, visit  http://frogandturtle.blogspot....




17, CA-06,  

[ Parent ]
WV-2
WV-2 is the most Republican district in West Virginia.  Almost every Republican in the West Virginia Legislature is from WV-2 and it is the least unionized district in the state.  

WV-3 is the most Democratic for sure as it is the most unionized, poorest and sends almost no Republicans to the Legislature.

23, male, center-right cynical Republican, PA-7

[ Parent ]
I keep wondering
Why people keep saying Capito's district is the most Democratic.  I can't find any information to substantiate that either.
[ Parent ]
I think it may have
(barely) voted more for Obama than the other two.

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
Gosh, 1 federal election?
And we think that pollsters use small samples LOL
[ Parent ]
Yeah, federal
numbers can be deceiving, in some ways WV is even more Democratic than, say, PA-06, even though the presidential toplines suggest otherwise.

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
Federal numbers are often deceiving
West Virginia and Pennsylvania are great examples of why Federal numbers often mean nothing for local and state races.

23, male, center-right cynical Republican, PA-7
[ Parent ]
And it depends on what sort of Dem
A socially liberal Dem might have a better shot in WV-02 than WV-03, if they were pro-business, but most home-grown West Virginia Dems are the social conservative union members that are the firm backbone of WV-03.

30, male, Democratic, CO-01
[ Parent ]
I'll keep saying it
I bet Capito never runs for anything more than her house seat.  There's always going to be someone competitive to run against in WV in a statewide race.  I doubt she'll ever even bother with Senator (unless something happens to Rockefeller healthwise), and I wouldn't be surprised if she passed on a Gov race too.

I've never heard her have any aspirations to move up and certainly none where she'd have to fight Byrd, Rockefeller or Manchin to get there.

To me, she's the candidate people love to talk about, but I think she likes the attention.  Heck, she could announce she's running for governor in 2011 or 2012 beginning today and get the first mover advantage in announcing and fundraising...just like Manchin just did.   But I doubt she will.

Capito makes it official:
http://www.dailymail.com/News/...

She's not running.

Congratulations, Senator Manchin.

NRSC second choice
I said last night it had to be Raese because Cornyn mentioned him last week and last night he said his second choice is someone who ran statewide before. I said it wasn't Ireland b/c he said someone who ran not won statewide before. I should note it could also be Bob Adams, who runs the League of American Voters, as he has lost a race for Treasurer in WV.  
SCornyn
So if Capito ever decides to run he'll pick somneone who has run statewide.  Its odd he's made that statement, its on the record in the future in subsequent elections if a statewide Republican wants to run and Capito is in the race.

Admittedly, statewide Republicans aren't that plentiful, especially the winners, but still....

[ Parent ]
Reading it wrong
He was saying his second choice to Capito is someone who has run statewide. He's not saying just anyone who has run statewide before. He was providing a hint at who he was talking to still, either Raese or Adams.  
[ Parent ]
Oh okay
Eh I'm sick of WV threads:-)  Manchin wins we need to move on.  

What's up next, the Delaware filing deadline?  Maybe Joe Biden resigns VP and runs for his old Senate seat?

[ Parent ]
Former WV SoS Primarying Manchin
http://www.politico.com/news/s...
He's 95 years old, served from 1959 to 1977 in congress, served as SoS for 16 years from 1985 until 2001, and lost to Mike Oliverio in 2004 for SoS Dem primary. He's the one who started an anti-Oliverio PAC. He's a progressive. My advice: Support him the same way ya'll did Bill Halter.  
Yeah,
after all, Manchin's chances of winning are no better than Blanche Lincoln's.

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
Now the question is
If we merge West Virginia and Arkansas into 1 state, can Manchin beat Boozman.  Sure Arkansas has more people, but can Manchin hold down Boozman's margins to win.

This is what happens when you don't sleep and we talk about comparing races :-)

[ Parent ]
I like it
let the battle for the Senate in West Virginkansas begin.

(my computer is all of a sudden really slow, perhaps a sign I should down more cough syrup and try to sleep again.)

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/

[ Parent ]
Feel better! n/t


"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Thanks...
hopefully at some point my body will get it together. :P

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
But
Since Capito is not running and the Dem nominee will win, I advise ya'll to try and get the most progressive result in the Senate. You know, for the progressive cause and all. Come on, think about it. Do you want another Nelson or another Boxer?  
[ Parent ]
That's true,
just like how you guys decided to primary Richard Burr after Roy Cooper passed.

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
Ya'll
Still had strong candidates, we don't, and Burr was already very conservative. Manchin isn't as liberal as ya'll like.  
[ Parent ]
That would be true if we were a bunch of purity trolls like you're side, but we're a big tent......
Everyone on DailyKos was thrilled when Travis Childers and Don Cazayoux won special elections, and no one complained afterward when they promptly voted exactly as they promised, as conservaDems.

Contrast that with Scott Brown, who stopped being your side's darling when he started...gasp!...voting with Democrats over and over again!  Now he's persona non grata among conservatives.

West Virginia is a conservative state, we can live with the Joe Manchins of the world from places like that.

When your side learns to accept people like Snowe and Collins and Scott Brown more broadly across the country, you'll have a chance to be a majority party again.

43, male, Indian-American, Democrat, VA-10

[ Parent ]
lol
Makes little difference. I doubt he gets twenty percent of the vote. But keep up your wishful thinking while we win this seat.  

Proud member of the Indiana Democratic Party from IN-9.  
[ Parent ]
Another name on Rep side
Sen. Minority Whip Clark Barnes. http://www.rttnews.com/Content...
He's not also 95 years old,
is he?

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01
[ Parent ]
Nope
He's only 60.  
[ Parent ]
Manchin = Hoeven
I guess in Manchin, the Dems have their own John Hoeven.
I'm not sure
that Dorgan couldn't have made it a race against Hoeven had he run again.  North Dakota is a small state that relies on pork, much like West Virginia, and I think that Dorgan's 18 years of seniority is not something those in North Dakota would have thrown away easily.  I'm not sure that Dorgan would have won by any means, but I think it would have been a lot closer than the polls and Dorgan were suggesting.
[ Parent ]
WV-Sen: WaPo Sources Say Capito Won't Run | 86 comments

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