Running All The Way To 2008

Perhaps taking their cues from a growing and already active field of U.S. presidential candidates, several West Virginians are gearing up for 2008 state and local races, Phil Kabler of The Charleston Gazette observes in his column today.

Kabler mentions the growing list of folks filing pre-candidacy papers. I count more than 70 filings so far, mostly for legislative races. There is also the typically sizable number of precandidates filing for "undeclared" offices.

Four people _ all incumbent lawmakers _ have even filed precandidacy papers for 2010!

The latest list of such filings with the Secretary of State's office is here. I would note that it costs nothing to file precandidacy papers. The numbers thin when official filings are due, along with sometimes-hefty filing fees.

The 2008 election campaign cycle in West Virginia is actually starting at around the same time that the 2006 cycle did. In the opening months of 2005, the National Republican Senatorial Committee launched an Internet-based effort to dissuade U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., from seeking another term. The NRSC then followed up with the first (negative) TV ad of the cycle that July.