Nov. 1, 2010
Raese's Winning Offer To West Virginia's Voters
Campaign 2010: The Raese/Manchin U.S. Senate Race
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
After such a twisting, turning political race like the Raese/Manchin U.S. Senate race has been, one has to step back to see whatever major themes and approaches each candidate has made to the voters. The winning candidate often is the one who, like a car dealer, makes the most reasonable offer to the voters.
John Raese's challenge to Joe Manchin this year has been forged early on oin the campaign, just by him running as an alternative to the two-term Governor. But Raese has also added some important incentives to draw more voters his way, according to Huntingtonnews.net Senior Political Analyst Jack Ellis.
"Raese has essentially made the following covenant
with West Virginia voters throughout his candidacy,"
said Ellis. "He's saying, "Give me two years to prove
myself worthy of a full term. And in exchange, we get
to keep Joe in as Governor and keep Senator Earl Ray
Tomblin out as an unelected Governor.""
"As simple as that sounds, that may be one of the biggest reasons we're already hearing about why so many areas across West Virginia are voting heavily for Raese, even some traditional Democratic strongholds," said Ellis. "People see Senator Tomblin as a great unknown quantity from Logan County, and they want Manchin to fill out his term."
"There are a lot of quiet Raese supporters out there, people too polite to talk it up a lot," said Ellis. "I'm hearing it from several parts of the state, this quiet voting for Raese."
"Frankly, some people like both men, and by voting in Raese this time, they get to have their cake and eat it, too," said Ellis. "They get to see how Raese performs in the U.S. Senate, while keeping Manchin employed as Governor. Ideally, the two men could learn to work well together for the betterment of West Virginia."
"Another factor here is the age and health of our other U.S.
Senator, Jay Rockefeller," said Ellis. "His term is up in the
not-so-distant future, and that's another opportunity for Manchin,
after he finishes up his second term as Governor."
"The truth is, I think some of Joe's supporters were a little hurt that Joe wanted to bag out on his second term in the Governor's Mansion," said Ellis. "So it's natural that people want "keep Manchin in the Mansion," to have him finish what he's started there. Then there will be other opportunities for Manchin in a couple of years."
"Ultimately, the people's will, not Joe Manchin's will, is what is important," said Ellis. "I think the Governor is just about to find that out."
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Raese's Winning Offer To West Virginia's Voters
Campaign 2010: The Raese/Manchin U.S. Senate Race
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
After such a twisting, turning political race like the Raese/Manchin U.S. Senate race has been, one has to step back to see whatever major themes and approaches each candidate has made to the voters. The winning candidate often is the one who, like a car dealer, makes the most reasonable offer to the voters.
John Raese's challenge to Joe Manchin this year has been forged early on oin the campaign, just by him running as an alternative to the two-term Governor. But Raese has also added some important incentives to draw more voters his way, according to Huntingtonnews.net Senior Political Analyst Jack Ellis.
"Raese has essentially made the following covenant
with West Virginia voters throughout his candidacy,"
said Ellis. "He's saying, "Give me two years to prove
myself worthy of a full term. And in exchange, we get
to keep Joe in as Governor and keep Senator Earl Ray
Tomblin out as an unelected Governor.""
"As simple as that sounds, that may be one of the biggest reasons we're already hearing about why so many areas across West Virginia are voting heavily for Raese, even some traditional Democratic strongholds," said Ellis. "People see Senator Tomblin as a great unknown quantity from Logan County, and they want Manchin to fill out his term."
"There are a lot of quiet Raese supporters out there, people too polite to talk it up a lot," said Ellis. "I'm hearing it from several parts of the state, this quiet voting for Raese."
"Frankly, some people like both men, and by voting in Raese this time, they get to have their cake and eat it, too," said Ellis. "They get to see how Raese performs in the U.S. Senate, while keeping Manchin employed as Governor. Ideally, the two men could learn to work well together for the betterment of West Virginia."
"Another factor here is the age and health of our other U.S.
Senator, Jay Rockefeller," said Ellis. "His term is up in the
not-so-distant future, and that's another opportunity for Manchin,
after he finishes up his second term as Governor."
"The truth is, I think some of Joe's supporters were a little hurt that Joe wanted to bag out on his second term in the Governor's Mansion," said Ellis. "So it's natural that people want "keep Manchin in the Mansion," to have him finish what he's started there. Then there will be other opportunities for Manchin in a couple of years."
"Ultimately, the people's will, not Joe Manchin's will, is what is important," said Ellis. "I think the Governor is just about to find that out."
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