Hoppy Kercheval states what we've been saying this cycle and in previous election cycles too here at West Virginia Blue:
...she's also cautious, and there is a body of evidence that suggests Capito will keep her powder dry for another race on another day.
Here's what Kercheval, who often carries water for the WV GOP doesn't admit: Capito will tease out a potential Senate run as long as she can in order to entice more people to contribute to her war chest for WV-02.
She's done it before when Republicans in the state and nationally wanted her to challenge Senators Rockefeller and Byrd in their last races. (Here's video footage of her discussing her decision not to run against Rockefeller in 2008 after teasing out a potential bid for those with short memories.)
All along she kept telling Republicans she would consider it, but in each case it was clear to anyone with a brain, which of course excludes anyone who is a Republican these days, that she would not run.
She's got a good gig and the power of the incumbency in WV-02. She is helped by low information voters who don't know she's pro-choice and who believe she is moderate when she votes in a very partisan rightwing manner.
The last thing Capito needs is a run for a different office that will lead to her facing real scrutiny about her lack of accomplishments.
She'll tease the Republicans as long as she can get money for it but at the last opportunity she'll find a reason not to run.
She's done it at least twice before. Will the third time be different with her facing the juggernaut Gov. Joe Manchin? Bloggers on the left and right who think because President Obama is not popular in the state will hurt down ticket candidates in elections here have clearly not looked at how the elections in '04 and '08 played out. Obama lost in a landslide in WV, nailing almost the exact vote percentage as he did with white voters nationally (41 percent in WV to 43 percent nationally). But the Democrats gained seats in the House of Delegates and State Senate and won every statewide office that year.
Of course not. But it's a good con game for her to play for her own selfish reasons. And all those Republicans in the state legislature who squandered the state's time and money to go to bat for her are just her suckers. If she "runs" for the Senate, it'll be just to get more money for her WV-02 campaign. Like any scam artist, she'll have to be watched closely so that she doesn't pull any election shenanigans like she did in 2008 when she used Congressional office signs at her political campaign HQ. But if past behavior is any guide she'll tease it out before racing for the House. |
