Manchin wins WV gubernatorial nod

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Secretary of State Joe Manchin cruised to the Democratic gubernatorial nomination Tuesday, while three Republicans were in a close race that was thrown wide open when an extramarital affair put an end to Gov. Bob Wise's career.
With 47% of the vote counted, Manchin had 67,734 votes, or 51%, to 35,161 votes, or 27%, for former state Sen. Lloyd Jackson. The two candidates had engaged in a bruising exchange of negative advertising in the weeks leading up to the primary.

Three GOP candidates remained bunched close to the top, led by former state tax secretary Rob Capehart, who had 11,511 votes, or 23%. Monty Warner, a retired Army colonel turned developer, was a close second with 10,600 votes, or 21%. Dan Moore, a former banker and car dealer, was third with 9,908 votes, or 20%.

Manchin lost a gubernatorial primary in 1996 after being painted as a pro-business candidate. He resurrected his career by winning the 2000 secretary of state campaign, then lined up a variety of support, including labor leaders, for this year's race.

more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/2004-05-12-west-virginia-primary_x.htm

thrown wide open" by Wise's unwise affair? The repub race for the nomination? Is it just me or is this a bit odd?

an embarassment of riches for the people of WV <heavy sarcasm>

I'm so glad I don't have to make that choice--I think my cat would get a write-in vote

Gloom despair and agony on me! Icky Fry, Bob Wise's concubine's irate husband, came in fourth! LMAO!

the mountain party couldn't even do us the favor of giving us a viable 3rd option and decided to nominate a former porn director as their candidate. I couldn't care less about his past, but in a prude state like this it guarantess that there will be no possibility of a chance of a three-way race. Given the rightwing tilt of these candidates, the Mtn. Party really blew an opportunity.

Jesse Johnson:

http://www.mtparty.org/nominations/jesse/jesse_johnson.html

and as I said, he's a joke. Johnson is a former soft-core porn director and if he would, by some chance, get into a legitimate three-way race with manchin and warner, all they have to do is point that out and this state of prudes would reject him

besides, he was also a 20 year+ republican until recently and I just don't trust the guy