Election 2008 Shorts (Updated)

• The Intelligencer of Wheeling compares Gov. Joe Manchin with his Democratic primary rival, Delegate Mel Kessler of Raleigh County, on the topic of coal liquefaction.

• The Associated Press finds that Barack Obama's campaign is focusing on the coal issue Monday: "Illinois State Rep. Dan Reitz, a former coal miner, is scheduled to visit with miners in Beckley and take a tour of coal extraction technology at West Virginia University Tech," AP reports. (Update) Reitz talked to MetroNews, as did a New York farmer stumping for Hillary Clinton in the Eastern Panhandle. Audio from both here.)
  

• A National Rifle Association official and U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, helped headline a Berkeley County event where GOP officials predicted that "discontent Americans, upset with problems common to most people — including the rising cost of gasoline — will provide the momentum behind Republican victories in upcoming 2008 elections," The Journal of Martinsburg reports.

• The Charleston Gazette notes that at least 15 former lawmakers seek to re-enter the Legislature this year.

• The Journal also focuses on the Obama campaigns efforts in the Eastern Panhandle in advance of next Tuesday's primary.

• The Gazette also crunches some campaign finance numbers in the state Supreme Court race.

• (Update) The AP's Tom Breen talks to some of the 2008 candidates considered longshots, including Kessler and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller's two Democratic primary challengers.

• (Update) The Charleston Daily Mail focuses on a TV ad from the Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation targeting Supreme Court Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard.