Gov. Joe Manchin is getting the band back together.
Tuesday's re-election filing featured "many of the business and labor leaders whose groups helped form the wide-ranging coalition that propelled Manchin from the secretary of state's office to the governor's mansion in 2004," The Associated Press reports.
He also had several lawmakers on hand -- fellow Democrats -- including House Speaker Rick Thompson and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin.
Manchin is the only candidate to file for governor so far, the Secretary of State's Office reports. The deadline is midnight Saturday, and the filing fee is $1,500.
While the GOP is expected to challenge Manchin, state party Chairman Doug McKinney predicts tough sledding.
"You're dealing with a guy with better than 70 percent approval rating, and the ability to raise tons of money,'' McKinney told AP. "Any candidate would have to campaign full-time, raise a couple of million dollars and travel to every county in the state. It's hard to get people to commit to that.''
Manchin already has $2.1 million on hand for his campaign, boasts Nick Casey, McKinney's Democratic counterpart.
There was plenty of media on hand for Manchin's announcement, including The Register-Herald of Beckley, The Charleston Gazette, MetroNews (with audio), and WOWK-TV.
MetroNews also hears from some Republican lawmakers on Manchin's track record. With audio.
23 January 2008
Manchin Makes It Official
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2 comments:
Perhaps the governor could enhance his standing in the business community by earning an MBA. I know where he can get one quickly. And if he's a shrewd negotiator, WVU may give the family a two-for-one deal.
FOr his next term, I hear that he plans on forcing Marshall to play a home-and-away series with Glenville and put a cafe in every library.
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