Election 2008 Shorts

• Gov. Joe Manchin tells The Associated Press that his Virginia counterpart, Gov. Tim Kaine, believes he's on Barack Obama's short list for running mate. Kaine had gotten no such word directly from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, however, Manchin said;

• After a failed -- and badly timed -- bid to enlist Secretary of State Betty Ireland to take his place on the ballot, Charles Minimah says he's staying in the race for that office as the Republican nominee, AP reports. MetroNews also has a story;
  

• The GOP's candidate for governor, Russ Weeks, is planning a Sept. 16 fundraiser in his native Raleigh County, The Register-Herald of Beckley reports. The article also touts Weeks' new Web site attacking his Democratic opponent, Manchin.

• (Update) Republican Jay Wolfe brought his campaign against Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., to the Eastern Panhandle, The Journal of Martinsburg reports.