Rasmussen shows that Republican John Raese is within striking distance of Gov. Joe Manchin in the US Senate race over in wild and wonderful West Virginia. As of now Manchin is up 48% to 42% according to Rasmussen.
First Read reminds us that what makes a good governor doesn't always make a good senator:
*** Why Manchin might not be a sure bet in November: The general election is now set in the race to fill the remainder of Robert Byrd’s (D) Senate seat in West Virginia, after Gov. Joe Manchin (D) and businessman John Raese (R) won their respective primaries on Saturday. Although Manchin is undoubtedly the front-runner in this contest -- due in large part to his high approval ratings -- here’s a word of caution for Democrats: Popular governors running for the Senate haven’t always enjoyed success. In 1994, Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan (D) lost to Craig Thomas (R); in 1996, Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson (D), whose poll numbers were in the 60s, lost to Chuck Hagel (R); and also in ‘96, popular Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R) lost to Sen. John Kerry (D). What makes someone a well-liked and successful governor isn’t always what voters seem to want from their U.S. senator.
You see it all the time in states that are nationally Republican but elect Democrats locally and vice-versa because local issues don't always jive with national issues. This year is a perfect example where there is such anger at what Obama and the hyper-liberal national agenda that it could overwhelm everything a popular governor like Manchin has done. The issues that voters consider when electing a governor aren't always the issues they use to elect a senator.
If John Raese can use his deep pockets to tie Manchin to all the things Obama is doing and how it hurts the state he could pull it off.
(h/t Political Wire)
How many dead people vote in West Virginia?
Posted by: Isophorone | August 31, 2010 at 08:52 PM