Oct. 10, 2010
SPIKE MAYNARD'S CAMPAIGN: Clever And Tough
Campaign 2010 Analysis: The Third Congressional District
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
Republican Congressional candidate Spike Maynard comes across as one part southern gentleman from the 19th Century and one part hip, 21st Century comedian who would feel right at home on any of the late shows on TV. A well-trained lawyer and former jurist, Maynard also knows how to persuade a jury with some emotion and get in a good jab on his opponent: but all with good timing and never overwrought.
Maynard's race against longtime incumbent Congressman Nick Joe Rahall has emerged from being a foregone conclusion of victory for Rahall to a real barnburner in these last weeks.
While Rahall has more D.C. connections and starts off with universal name recognition, slowly but surely Maynard has crept up on Rahall. He has used a combination of hot button politics and humor to make his point that a change is needed for the Third Congressional Districts representative in D.C.
"Spike Maynard has a certain fearless quality that goes over really well
in Southern West Virginia," said Jack Ellis, Huntingtonnews.net's senior
political analyst. "Another man might have crawled up under a rock
and died after all that negative press about Maynard's friendship with
Massey Coal's controversial CEO Don Blankenship. And after the Upper
Big Branch disaster, Maynard did take an appropriate pause in his campaign
to regroup."
"But now, this guy is coming on like gangbusters, and the polls show that the people of the Third District are rewarding him for it," said Ellis. "First he had that ad saying that Rahall supported sending American tax dollars to help the Chinese build windmills to compete against our coal industry. That was just odd enough to get people's attention, and frankly, I'm still hearing that little Asian jingle inside my head."
"Then Maynard has gone on statewide radio to declare that if Rahall is foolish enough to bring out that old photo again with him and Blankenship, well, Maynard's campaign have some interesting photos, too," said Ellis. "Photos of Nick Joe Rahall grinning for the cameras with Palestinian terrorist Yassir Arafat among others."
"That's a good strategy, because it sends the signal to Rahall that Maynard is no longer afraid," said Ellis. "Maynard appears like a man who has the political winds at his back, and his bringing up Rahall's pro-Arab sympathies in a very pro-Israel district is absolutely devastating. Have you ever seen all those churches down there with their American and Israeli flags flying from the front doors?"
"But of course the real meat of this campaign is saving the West Virginia coal industry, and there's no doubt that Maynard has made this the cornerstone of his entire campaign from the very beginning several months ago," said Ellis.
"For example, I understand that in Williamson, Spike's hometown, they've got a huge "Vote for Spike Maynard" sign and right next to it is this funny, huge sign that says, "LEGALIZE COAL," said Ellis. "The Third District loves a good laugh, and Maynard may be laughing all the way to Washington soon if Rahall doesn't campaign harder. This race has become a jewel to watch."
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SPIKE MAYNARD'S CAMPAIGN: Clever And Tough
Campaign 2010 Analysis: The Third Congressional District
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
Republican Congressional candidate Spike Maynard comes across as one part southern gentleman from the 19th Century and one part hip, 21st Century comedian who would feel right at home on any of the late shows on TV. A well-trained lawyer and former jurist, Maynard also knows how to persuade a jury with some emotion and get in a good jab on his opponent: but all with good timing and never overwrought.
Maynard's race against longtime incumbent Congressman Nick Joe Rahall has emerged from being a foregone conclusion of victory for Rahall to a real barnburner in these last weeks.
While Rahall has more D.C. connections and starts off with universal name recognition, slowly but surely Maynard has crept up on Rahall. He has used a combination of hot button politics and humor to make his point that a change is needed for the Third Congressional Districts representative in D.C.
"Spike Maynard has a certain fearless quality that goes over really well
in Southern West Virginia," said Jack Ellis, Huntingtonnews.net's senior
political analyst. "Another man might have crawled up under a rock
and died after all that negative press about Maynard's friendship with
Massey Coal's controversial CEO Don Blankenship. And after the Upper
Big Branch disaster, Maynard did take an appropriate pause in his campaign
to regroup."
"But now, this guy is coming on like gangbusters, and the polls show that the people of the Third District are rewarding him for it," said Ellis. "First he had that ad saying that Rahall supported sending American tax dollars to help the Chinese build windmills to compete against our coal industry. That was just odd enough to get people's attention, and frankly, I'm still hearing that little Asian jingle inside my head."
"Then Maynard has gone on statewide radio to declare that if Rahall is foolish enough to bring out that old photo again with him and Blankenship, well, Maynard's campaign have some interesting photos, too," said Ellis. "Photos of Nick Joe Rahall grinning for the cameras with Palestinian terrorist Yassir Arafat among others."
"That's a good strategy, because it sends the signal to Rahall that Maynard is no longer afraid," said Ellis. "Maynard appears like a man who has the political winds at his back, and his bringing up Rahall's pro-Arab sympathies in a very pro-Israel district is absolutely devastating. Have you ever seen all those churches down there with their American and Israeli flags flying from the front doors?"
"But of course the real meat of this campaign is saving the West Virginia coal industry, and there's no doubt that Maynard has made this the cornerstone of his entire campaign from the very beginning several months ago," said Ellis.
"For example, I understand that in Williamson, Spike's hometown, they've got a huge "Vote for Spike Maynard" sign and right next to it is this funny, huge sign that says, "LEGALIZE COAL," said Ellis. "The Third District loves a good laugh, and Maynard may be laughing all the way to Washington soon if Rahall doesn't campaign harder. This race has become a jewel to watch."
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