A "Blankenship Factor" in 2008?

Several GOP lawmakers opined to The Associated Press on the question, during ongoing legislative interim meetings in Martinsburg.

The Massey Energy Chief sought to influence legislative races last year. His statewide advertising campaign spent at least $2.7 million (he reported $3.6 million to the Secretary of State, but seems to have double-counted expenditures) promoting Republican candidates while lambasting Democratic incumbents.

The results: the Democrats gained seats in both chambers, despite Blankenship's vow to hand the House to Republicans (the ad campaign focused on the House, though Blankenship and his allies also contributed to Senate candidates).

"His whole program and approach were really defective, in many ways," Sen. John Yoder, R-Jefferson, told AP. "The cookie-cutter approach, I think, was a disaster for House members."

Another Republican, Sen. Clark Barnes of Randolph County, has conducted a detailed analysis of how Blankenship's efforts failed _ and found one area where it apparently aided the GOP.

Blankenship is expected to target the state Supreme Court races next year. After all, his 2004 ad campaign helped Republican Brent Benjamin defeat then-incumbent Justice Warren McGraw.

Two of the high court's five seats are on the 2008 ballot. Blankenship is expected to support his friend since childhood, Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard, and Charleston employment lawyer Elizabeth Walker. Her husband is an executive with Walker Machinery, the Blankenship industry ally and sponsor of the "Coal Keeps The Lights On" radio ads.