The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register reports…
Wheeling architect David McKinley could challenge U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan in a race for the congressional seat in 2010.
McKinley acknowledged Friday that he went to Washington, D.C., this week and spoke with National Republican Congressional Committee members about a potential run in West Virginia’s 1st District. He added that an announcement regarding his plans should occur before the end of 2009.
McKinley is a former state delegate and past chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party.
Andy Sere, spokesman for the NRCC, indicated the party would be happy to have McKinley in a race against Mollohan, D-W.Va.
He admitted that the NRCC likely would target the race in 2010, as rumors of an FBI investigation into his finances hangs over Mollohan, and as polls show West Virginians growing increasingly dissatisfied with a Democratic administration and Congress.
Both factors have hurt Mollohan in raising campaign funds for 2010, Sere noted.
“We have a number of candidates already in the race, and potential candidates we believe would beat Congressman Mollohan,” he said. “The large field is a strong indicator that folks in West Virginia believe this is the year Mollohan can be retired. Part of this is related to issues surrounding Mollohan himself – his voting record and the FBI investigation that continues to simmer.”
Sere said the NRCC also thinks “the political climate for Democrats in West Virginia under Obama is toxic.”
“Not only are folks there conservative on most issues, they know the White House wants to wage a war on coal,” he said. “And Mollohan has been AWOL on the fight. He has not been standing up for West Virginia.”
The list of those lining up for Mollohan’s seat has been increasing in recent weeks.
Mac Warner of Morgantown – the brother of former state Republican Party Chairman and past gubernatorial candidate Kris Warner – told The Intelligencer this month he will seek the 1st District seat in 2010.
State Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, has indicated he also will seek Mollohan’s job next year. Barnes is a resident of Beverly, W.Va., located within West Virginia’s 2nd District, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
The rules for running for Congress are established by the U.S. Constitution and require only that a candidate live within the state he or she would represent.
Barnes has noted that as a state senator, he does represent Grant County, which falls within the 1st District.
Others already have filed as pre-candidates in the Republican primary: Cindy Hall of Wheeling; Randy “Scott” Smith of Terra Alta; Thomas Stark of Parkersburg; and Daniel Scott Swisher of Washington, W.Va.
In addition, R.J. Smith of Triadelphia has filed to challenge Mollohan on the Democratic side.
Really excited to see Dave McKinley get into this race. He has done so much for the Wheeling area and will represent West Virginians very well in Washington.
McKinley is the right person from that district: a conservative, electable, experienced campaigner. His community involvement and his role as a job creator put him as the front runner of this primary. McKinley can defeat Mollhan, bottomline.
I still like Mac… but David has plenty of his own cash to throw in the race. The more the merrier.
Would it be a good idea for the Republicans to beat each other up in the primary. I would hope the best candidate would be able to reserve their funds to use in the general.
After Clark stepped aside, with the field as is, look for Mac to win the primary even if Mr. McKinley gets in.
The national’s reputation in WV will probably hurt Mr. McKinley and look for Mac to run a great primary campaign. (They hurt both John Raese and Chris Wakim in 06, more than most will ever know.)
In contrast to what our former Ex. Director always preached, primaries are GREAT for our party and create an interested, involved base… if they are contested correctly.
Whoever wins, after acting like little children in 2 of the last 3 primaries, let’s hope ALL our WV conservatives get behind the winner and get rid of one of Nancy’s clowns!!!
If Mac does win, let’s hope the national party will help him raise the funds needed. If Mr. McKinley would happen to get in and win, knowing Mac like I do, he and Debbie would surely want his supporters to help defeat Mollohan.
AMEN RICK
I am betting McKinley wins the primary.
The Warners think they are golden in the West Virginia Republican Party. If their family had not spent the State Party over $200,000 in debt we would be setting great today. Don’t underestimate that people haven’t forgotten what they did to the Party.
Also, don’t underestimate the fact that the majority of the Warners are broke. In fact, I have been told that Kris Warner’s home in Charleston has been foreclosed on by the bank. Their legal troubles in Morgantown spell trouble for them. The Warner name is tainted.
I know the few people still involved with the State Party want another Warner to win the primary. The rest of us who don’t go to committee meetings and state meetings want someone who can actually beat Mollohan.
Would like to see Mac Warner’s reaction when he looks at the money that McKinley is planning to spend to beat Mollohan – could buy a house on Cheat Lake!