Oct. 26, 2010
Mountain Party's Jesse Johnson Finally Gets Another Starring Role
Campaign Analysis 2010: The U.S. Senate Contest
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
The Mountain Party's candidate for U.S. Senate, Jesse Johnson, has been cast in some
interesting roles over the years, both in theater and in politics. And while he has generally
acquitted himself well as an articulate spokesperson for his causes, he hasn't really
had the limelight to make a significant difference in a given political race.
That is, until now. This year's U.S. Senate race gives Johnson a chance to strike a significant blow for the labor and environmental movements in West Virginia and to remind the Democratic Party that they can't go very far without Johnson's supporters.
In the recent U.S. Senate debate, Johnson came across as an earnest, well-informed speaker, who came at issues from a whole other grid than the other candidates.
"Jesse clearly doesn't mind being the contrarian if he needs to be," said Jack Ellis, Senior Political Analyst for Huntingtonnews.net. "You'd find him and John Raese both having serious concerns about Manchin's support for Obamacare, but from very different angles. It was fascinating political theater."
"You get the impression when you watch Jesse speak out on issues that he's more than the one-issue candidate that the Mountain Party wanted this year on Mountaintop Removal," said Ellis. "Don't get me wrong, Jesse's a fine debater for the environmental side of that argument. But there's more that he'd like to have a chance to talk about in a future race."
Is that why Jesse Johnson is running for U.S. Senate this year? Is he trying
to get his name out for a 2012 run for Governor?
"Wouldn't surprise me," said Ellis. "Jesse needs to show people that he's not just a third party candidate who is mired in single digits. He doesn't want to just make a point. He wants to get elected someday. In order to do that, he needs to be a lion slayer this year and take 7-10 points away from Governor Manchin."
"If Jesse helps Manchin lose this race, the Democratic Party will have gotten their wake-up call from their liberal friends, that's for sure," said Ellis.
"If enough liberal and labor Democrats come over to help Jesse on November 2nd, then he has positioned himself well for a run in 2012," said Ellis. "He could run for Governor on the Democratic and Mountain Party tickets or for something else. If John Raese wins this year and Joe Manchin's career is on the rocks, Jesse might even be able to run against Raese in two years for the full six-year term."
"Manchin has alienated a lot of his constitutents in this hard-edged election," Ellis said. "Just this past weekend, he turned on President Obama's health care reform, after he touted it all this past year. So loyal Democrats now need a place to go and Jesse Johnson is where many of them are heading."
"You talk about your grassroots politicking, well, Jesse is gatherng up those liberal Democratic votes quickly," said Ellis. "His percentage of the final tally should go up thanks to Manchin doing his attempted turnaround on Obamacare. Plus, that Mountaintop Removal issue has gotten a lot of play this year thanks to Jesse and Ken Hechler."
Recent Jesse Johnson video: http://vimeo.com/15493980
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Mountain Party's Jesse Johnson Finally Gets Another Starring Role
Campaign Analysis 2010: The U.S. Senate Contest
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
The Mountain Party's candidate for U.S. Senate, Jesse Johnson, has been cast in some
interesting roles over the years, both in theater and in politics. And while he has generally
acquitted himself well as an articulate spokesperson for his causes, he hasn't really
had the limelight to make a significant difference in a given political race.
That is, until now. This year's U.S. Senate race gives Johnson a chance to strike a significant blow for the labor and environmental movements in West Virginia and to remind the Democratic Party that they can't go very far without Johnson's supporters.
In the recent U.S. Senate debate, Johnson came across as an earnest, well-informed speaker, who came at issues from a whole other grid than the other candidates.
"Jesse clearly doesn't mind being the contrarian if he needs to be," said Jack Ellis, Senior Political Analyst for Huntingtonnews.net. "You'd find him and John Raese both having serious concerns about Manchin's support for Obamacare, but from very different angles. It was fascinating political theater."
"You get the impression when you watch Jesse speak out on issues that he's more than the one-issue candidate that the Mountain Party wanted this year on Mountaintop Removal," said Ellis. "Don't get me wrong, Jesse's a fine debater for the environmental side of that argument. But there's more that he'd like to have a chance to talk about in a future race."
Is that why Jesse Johnson is running for U.S. Senate this year? Is he trying
to get his name out for a 2012 run for Governor?
"Wouldn't surprise me," said Ellis. "Jesse needs to show people that he's not just a third party candidate who is mired in single digits. He doesn't want to just make a point. He wants to get elected someday. In order to do that, he needs to be a lion slayer this year and take 7-10 points away from Governor Manchin."
"If Jesse helps Manchin lose this race, the Democratic Party will have gotten their wake-up call from their liberal friends, that's for sure," said Ellis.
"If enough liberal and labor Democrats come over to help Jesse on November 2nd, then he has positioned himself well for a run in 2012," said Ellis. "He could run for Governor on the Democratic and Mountain Party tickets or for something else. If John Raese wins this year and Joe Manchin's career is on the rocks, Jesse might even be able to run against Raese in two years for the full six-year term."
"Manchin has alienated a lot of his constitutents in this hard-edged election," Ellis said. "Just this past weekend, he turned on President Obama's health care reform, after he touted it all this past year. So loyal Democrats now need a place to go and Jesse Johnson is where many of them are heading."
"You talk about your grassroots politicking, well, Jesse is gatherng up those liberal Democratic votes quickly," said Ellis. "His percentage of the final tally should go up thanks to Manchin doing his attempted turnaround on Obamacare. Plus, that Mountaintop Removal issue has gotten a lot of play this year thanks to Jesse and Ken Hechler."
Recent Jesse Johnson video: http://vimeo.com/15493980
Share This Story:
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