New Dem Challenger in West Virginia Race
By Greg Giroux
West Virginia Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito will face a credible Democratic opponent in the state's 2nd District this November - just not the Democrat she expected.
Barely 24 hours before the candidate filing period ended at midnight Saturday, Democratic state Sen. John Unger, who had been the party's consensus candidate since announcing his candidacy nearly eight months ago, informed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the campaign arm of House Democrats, on Friday evening that he was withdrawing from the race.
The Democratic officials who had backed Unger quickly switched their allegiance to Anne Barth, the longtime state director to Democratic Sen. Robert C. Byrd . Barth, who considered a run for Congress last summer, resigned from her position on Saturday and filed with state election officials later that day. She will be favored in a May 13 primary election that includes Richie Robb, a former Republican mayor of South Charleston who lost the 2006 Democratic primary in the 2nd District, and Thornton Cooper, a lawyer.
Barth's late start and the uncertainty surrounding the Democratic campaign in West Virginia's 2nd have prompted CQ Politics to shift the rating of the West Virginia 2 race to "Republican Favored," which is a slightly less competitive rating than the "Leans Republican" classification that had been previously applied to the West Virginia 2 race. The rating may be changed at any time depending on circumstances.
"John Unger dropping out of this race is both a recruiting failure by the Democrats and a testament to Rep. Capito's strength within the district," said Julie Shutley, a spokeswoman with the National Republican Congressional Committee. "She is a well-respected, independent voice for the people of West Virginia's Second Congressional district and will be re-elected in November."
Barth may yet provide a highly competitive challenge to Capito, who is unopposed in the Republican primary. Despite Barth's late start, more than nine months remain until the November campaign. As a longtime aide to Byrd - the longest-serving senator in history and a legend in West Virginia politics - Barth is very familiar with the day-to-day concerns of West Virginia residents. Byrd said in a statement that, "as my state director for over two decades, Anne has plenty of hands-on experience working with other congressional members."
DCCC chairman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland issued a statement that called Barth "an A+ candidate with unparalleled experience and support from West Virginians."
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Capito's political success has coincided with the district's recent Republican leanings in presidential elections. President Bush won 57 percent of the district vote in the 2004 election, narrowly winning Kanawha, which includes the state capital of Charleston, and prevailing more comfortably in the state's Eastern Panhandle.
The article continues with a look at other races in West Virginia. Here's a note on Gov. Manchin's re-election bid:
