The '08 Money Race Comes to W.Va.

Though his term is not up until 2008, Gov. Joe Manchin has begun raising funds for his next campaign, MetroNews' Hoppy Kercheval observes today.

The “Committee to Re-elect Joe Manchin” collected about $170,000 at a Morgantown event late last year, Kercheval reports, and has a "Friend Raiser" (am I allowed to wince?) set for mid-April at the Charleston Marriott.

Hoppy also relates that Manchin made an appeal to potential donors for the upcoming event at a March 6 gathering at Charleston's Edgewood Country Club. There, "Manchin told a packed house that he’s running for re-election in ’08 and asked for their support."

Manchin's latest campaign finance report, filed Tuesday with the secretary of state, shows a $1.16 million balance. Hoppy's column also reflects that figure.