West Virginia Blue
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Seems like every other month, either the Washington Post or Politico reports moves to remove Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-Beloved) from chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Politico reported it again earlier today. After so many false reports on the topic, I'll believe it when I see it.
"I learned a long time ago you can't believe everything you read in the papers, especially here in Washington," Senator Robert Byrd said. "I am totally focused on electing Barack Obama as President and Anne Barth as Congresswoman in next week's elections. And in my capacity as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I continue to craft a potential second stimulus package that will benefit Main Street America."
Personally I'd rather see Byrd remain chairman of Appropriations than Sen. Harry Reid remain as Senate Majority Leader. Reid's not done a good of job as many of us has hoped. He's allowed the Republicans to roadblock Democrats' bills yet yields constantly to the Republicans. Reid's the one who needs replaced.
As we reported Friday, Democratic Anne "Breath of fresh air" Barth outraised Shelley Moore "Bush fan club president" Capito this period. Now AP has the story:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Underscoring its status as West Virginia's most competitive congressional contest this year, Democrat Anne Barth out-raised Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito during the latest reporting period in their race to represent the 2nd U.S. House district.
Barth attracted more than $122,500 during the first half of the month, about $42,200 more than Capito.
The AP also has the numbers on two races we've not covered since, well, the Republicans aren't really in the races.
But their combined fundraising is less than half what Sen. Jay Rockefeller has amassed as he seeks a fifth term in that chamber.
The Democrat had received $6.7 million by Oct. 15, including a half-million dollars during the filing period. Republican Jay Wolfe, who challenged him without success in 2002, nearly doubled his overall haul as he pursues a rematch by raising $34,500 during the latest period. Rockeller had a balance of $1.6 million, the most of any West Virginia congressional candidate. Wolfe had $5,992.
In the state's remaining contested congressional race, Democratic Rep. Nick Rahall has $1.3 million on hand after raising $21,225 and spending $5,124 during the filing period. His GOP opponent, Marty Gearheart, has not raised enough funds to trigger a report.
Here's a good place to remind people the words of the president of the Berkeley County GOP,Joseph DeSoto.
Former Gov. Gaston Caperton explains why Anne Barth would be a tremendous representative for the people of West Virginia.
I attended the Campaign for Change event in Martinsburg, West Virginia today. It was rainy, autumnal day. We had a boisterous, fired up and ready to go crowd in attendance. Most of those who arrived early did visibility for our candidates outside the headquarters. We let our voices loud enough for even those across the street at the Shelley Moore Capito headquarters could hear us even though she's tried to not listen to her constituents for years.
Today's event featured former Gov. Gaston Caperton, former Gov. Bob Wise, who also had served as the Congressional representative for the district, and West Virginia native son and U.S. Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware, currently the junior senator of his state and soon to be the senior senator once Sen. Joe Biden is elected our vice president.
Are Republicans fleeing Shelley Moore Capito's sinking ship?
As the Cook Report showed the racing tightening earlier today, it's significant to see in the pre-election FEC fundraising filing that Anne Barth outraised Shelley Moore Capito by a significant amount.
Anne Barth raised $121,858 in the latest period to Capito's $80,294.
With Capito heavily bankrolled by the National Association of Realtors PAC, Wall Street, and Big Oil, Capito still has $391,231 cash on hand.
But the huge cash advantage Capito had as a 4-term incumbent financed by the corporate and Republican Party fat cats is largely gone.
Anne Barth has $227,158.
While Capito still has more funds, Barth still has enough to answer Capito's late smear attacks that she always uses at the end of the cycle. Callaghan ran out of money (as well as his other problems.) Anne Barth has funds to fire back.
WV-02 Shelley Moore Capito Likely Republican to Lean Republican
Stretching from the Ohio River past Charleston to West Virginia's eastern panhandle, this district is the most white-collar in the state. Although it has given President Bush some of his widest margins in the state in both 2000 and 2004, it may be Sen. Barack Obama's best-performing district this year, and polls show Obama narrowing the statewide gap to within single digits.
As such, Capito can no longer count on the huge boost from the top of the ticket we once assumed. And while Capito still enjoys solid job approval and favorable ratings, Democratic former Sen. Byrd staffer Anne Barth is a much more dynamic and polished candidate than Democrats have run here in the past. In today's economic climate, Barth's efforts to link Capito and Bush cannot be discounted.
Capito is still a slight favorite, but this race has tightened considerably.
Cook has rated WV-02 from solid Republican to Likely Republican to Leans Republican. By election day, let's make sure this race is Anne Barth's. We deserve a representative like Anne Barth in Congress who'll fight for us instead of Shelley Moore Capito who always sided with George W. Bush and her corporate sponsors.
With only 13 days to go until Election Day, I wanted to impress upon you just how important your vote is. In over five decades of public service to my fellow West Virginians, I believe this election is the most important one we've ever faced together. America has gotten way, way off track and it will require skilled leadership, experience and political courage to guide us back to peace and prosperity in the coming years.
That is why I want to let you know just how very, very important I believe it is to send Anne Barth to Congress. As a senior aide and State Director in my Charleston office, Anne has 21 years of on-the-job experience working alongside me, as my eyes and ears on the ground, to get things done in Washington for the people of West Virginia.
And I can tell you first-hand that she has been working extremely hard during this election. As a minister's daughter, she was raised in a tradition of service to others, and she brings that same energy in a tradition of service to others, and she brings that same energy and desire to be helpful in everything she does.
Anne knows that invading and occupying Iraq was a mistake, and that the $12 billion per month we are spending there means that many of our own needs here at home are going unmet. Anne knows that working families in West Virginia have been getting the short end of the stick for 8 long years. Anne knows that clean coal technologies have a central role to play in a new national energy policy. Anne understands that the working middle class is the real economic engine of America - not the fat cats on Wall Street.
Anne Barth understands that it takes political courage to be a real leader - and I can bear witness that she is ready to lead.
West Virginia's 2nd congressional district is one of the largest geographically in America. Campaigning from Point Pleasant on the Ohio River to Harpers Ferry at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers is quite a logistical challenge, but Anne has been tireless and has proven she is more than up to the task. She shares with me a genuine love for one-on-one politics, and has enjoyed meeting thousands of voters across the Mountain State face to face.
And I am enjoying being part of Anne Barth's campaign. She is intelligent, diligent and -- since I've been in a campaign or two myself - seems always willing to listen to my advice.
I have a lot of faith in Anne Barth, and I also have a lot of faith in the people of West Virginia. I know they'll look closely at Anne's candidacy and make the right decision on November 4th. At this very critical juncture 2 weeks out from Election Day, I am urging you to please make a contribution to the Anne Barth for Congress campaign. I would consider it a smart investment in the future of West Virginia.
Thank you!!
Your Friend,
(A reminder of this weekend's many events, starting with Joe Biden in Charleston today.
Bumped again. Hope is around the corner. - promoted by Carnacki)
There's lots going on this weekend. Plenty of chances to get out and show your Democratic Party pride. Even better, take a friend!
Via email:
Senator Joe Biden to Visit Charleston
Friday, Oct. 24
Rally in Downtown
Capitol Street
Doors open: 8:30 AM
Program starts: 10:30 AM
Public entrance: Fife St. and Summers St.
This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged. RSVP at www.wv.barackobama.com
Update: Success
Saturday Events
Eastern Panhandle Tri-County rallies with former Governors Gaston Caperton and Bob Wise, along with US Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), 2nd District Congressional Nominee Anne Barth and Auditor Glen Gainer.
Morgan County, Berkeley Springs
Democratic Headquarters
15 Washington St.
10 AM
Berkeley County, Martinsburg
Democratic Headquarters
124 S. Queen St.
12 PM
Jefferson County, Charles Town
The Stephenson House
515 E. Washington St.
2 PM
Joe Manchin will be campaigning in three counties Saturday:
Jackson County
Democratic Headquarters, Ripley
12PM
Taylor County
Democratic Headquarters, Grafton
4PM
Congressman Alan Mollohan & Gov. Manchin Barbour County
Democratic Wine & Cheese evening
Adaland Mansion (2 miles north of Philippi - take US 119 N then Rt. 76).
Call Chairman Jude McConnell 457-1445 for tickets; $25 each 5-7 PM
Senator Jay Rockefeller and Congressman Nick Rahall will lead a Democratic Rally in Cabell County at the Headquarters at 1201 7th Ave. Huntington; 3:30 PM.
Early Voting is still underway Monday - Saturday at your County Courthouse through November 1st.
Charleston, W.Va. - Anne Barth, the Democratic nominee for Congress in West Virginia's Second Congressional District, understands that programs like Medicare and Medicaid are more important in West Virginia than many other states, and must be protected and strengthened. Barth visited with local seniors on Wednesday in Nitro and Saint Albans and listened to their concerns that the downward-spiraling economy is pushing affordable health care further out of reach.
"Medicare and Medicaid are the critical safety nets for West Virginia's seniors," Barth said. "We have an older population than most states, and we continue to struggle with high rates of diabetes and heart disease. Medicare and Medicaid are programs that West Virginians' lives literally depend on, and yet these programs continue to be under attack."
"I pledge to support and protect Medicare and Medicaid when I am elected to Congress," Barth said.
"Shelley Moore Capito has voted in favor of every Bush budget that has cut Medicare and Medicaid," Barth said. "Now the Republican Presidential nominee is saying if he becomes president he will 'pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and MedicaidK.'" [Wall Street Journal, October 6, 2008] "We must break this chain of attacks on Medicare and Medicaid and do what's right for West Virginians."
"West Virginians can't afford to have the foundation of our rural health care system pulled out from under us," Barth said. "Every time Medicare gets cut it puts more pressure on our rural doctors and hospitals. If this trend continues, we'll drive more rural doctors away to the cities and push more rural hospitals toward closure. Having health insurance coverage doesn't mean much if you can't find a doctor who will see you."
"The health industry already has its powerful lobbyists entrenched in Washington. West Virginia's 2nd District should have someone who represents us instead, and I pledge to be that voice in Congress," Barth said.
Anne Barth supports improving Medicare and Medicaid for West Virginia's seniors by:
*Lowering seniors' costs for purchasing medications by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate with drug manufacturers for lower prices for Medicare recipients
*Creating coverage for 'dual-eligible' seniors, which includes those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid
*Closing the donut hole of coverage in Medicare that leaves seniors paying higher out-of-pocket expenses
*Supporting budgets that fully fund Medicare and Medicaid
*Lowering costs by implementing electronic medical records for all Medicare recipients
Shelley Moore Capito's Legislative Record on Medicare and Medicaid:
Capito voted for a conference agreement that cut Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $6.9 billion, and cut Medicare by $6.4 from increases in cost-sharing and premiums [HRS653, Vote #4, 2/01/06]
Capito voted for passages of a budget that cut $11.4 billion from Medicaid over five years [HR4241, Vote #601, 11/18/05]
Capito voted against requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices [Source: HR 4, Vote #23, 1/12/07]
Capito voted for cutting $6.4 billion from Medicare in 2005 [S1932, Vote #670, 12/19/05)
And in yet another example of Capito saying one thing and doing another, Capito was one of 45 House Republicans who signed a letter to House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle protesting the very cuts in Medicaid she voted for. [Charleston Gazette editorial, 11/10/05]
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