Election 2008: Weekend Roundup

Governor

• WSAZ-TV hosted a forum for GOP gubernatorial nominee Russ Weeks and Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson, after "Democrat Joe Manchin declined WSAZ's offer to take part in the forum." A number of video clips accompany the online article.

• The Journal of Martinsburg focuses on Johnson.
  

Congress

• WSAZ-TV also held debates between congressional candidates in two races: Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd, and Democratic challenger Anne Barth (with full video and clips); and Rep. Nick Rahall, D-3rd, with GOP nominee Marty Gearheart (also with full video and clips).

• The Charleston Gazette set the stage for Sunday's Capito-Barth debate.
  

• The Associated Press profiles the Rahall-Gearheart matchup.

Supreme Court

• AP offers an overview of the contest among two Democrats and one Republican for two seats on West Virginia's Supreme Court.

• Both AP and Public Broadcasting (with audio) offer coverage from the Supreme Court candidates' forum held at West Virginia University's College of Law. The host has a webcast.
  

• Public Broadcasting earlier profiled the court candidates, and offers audio as well as video of Democrats Margaret Workman and Menis Ketchum, and Republican Beth Walker.

Legislature

• AP previews this year's legislative races: all 100 seats in the House of Delegate are up for election, as are 17 of the 34 state Senate seats. AP hears from officials from both major parties on their prospects, and also analyzes the latest campaign finance filings.

• The Journal fields GOP reaction to a campaign by a labor PAC, the West Virginia Building & Construction Trades, targeting several of their legislative incumbents and hopefuls.

• The Martinsburg paper also profiles a series of Republican legislative candidates, including Delegates Craig Blair, Jonathan Miller, Daryl Cowles, John Overington.

• The Journal profiles Democrat Mike Roberts and the Mountain Party's Robin Mills among the legislative challengers as well.

Other

• AP profiles the close battle between incumbent Democratic Attorney General Darrell McGraw and GOP challenger Dan Greear.

• AP takes an advance look at the ballot issue in Greenbrier County that would allow casino gambling at its world-famous resort. As AP's Tom Breen reports, because of an impasse between The Greenbrier and its workers, "union officials are appealing to voters in this southeastern West Virginia county to help the resort increase its revenues by adding gambling to its list of amenities."

• The Journal previews an Eastern Panhandle Democratic rally headlined by national party official and local resident Alice Germond.