(Cross-posted from HuntingtonNews.net.)
Raese Calls Rasmussen Poll “Quite Encouraging”
GOP Challenger leading by 12 points among Independents
It’s a double digit lead, but Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Raese sees potential in the new Rasmussen poll out Friday that shows Joe Manchin with a 16 point advantage out of the starting gate.
“The fact that we’ve got a 12 point lead among the growing Independent vote was what struck me,” said Raese, a former State GOP Chairman. “We didn’t expect to be in single digits against the Governor yet. After all, I just filed on Thursday. But the Independent voters’ support–now that was a pleasant development and I’m grateful to have it.”
In a close race, West Virginia’s Independent voters can make the difference, whether in a primary or a general election. Independents are now allowed to vote in either party’s primary. And Independents are a growing part of the electorate. For example, Kanawha County alone has over 10,000 registered Independents.
“What Raese has to do now is to get some more people to identify him with their discontent with the status quo in D.C.,” said Jack Ellis, a Putnam County political consultant who has worked with both Republican and Democratic candidates in West Virginia.
“All you have to do is look at the number of “red counties” that went Republican in the 2008 election to see what Raese’s thinking,” said Ellis. “McCain/Palin won 48 out of 55 counties including the powerhouse counties of Kanawha, Putnam, Cabell, Wood, Berkeley, Ohio, Raleigh, and Mercer. That’s pretty huge, and Raese is clearly wanting to stoke those same coals this year.”
Raese faces nine lesser known Republicans including former First District Congressional candidate Mac Warner in his GOP Primary. Manchin faces former Monongalia County Delegate Sheirl Fletcher and former Secretary of State Ken Hechler in his Democratic Primary.
Both Special Election primaries are on a truncated schedule and will be held on August 28, a Saturday. The Special Election General Election will follow a little over two months later on the same date as the Regular General Election, November 2nd, a Tuesday.
That map says it all. This could be the best year the WV GOP has seen in a long, long time. But it’s going to take each of us doing what we can for a great top of the ticket: Capito, McKinley, Maynard, and now John Raese? This is just about as good as it gets, folks. Tell your Independent and Democratic friends that we’ve got some excellent options for them to tell Pelosi, Reid, and Obama to back off the stimulus packages, health care nightmares, and job killing environmental nuisance bills. It’s time to put them in their place!
The ONLY way we will have an Economic Recovery in West Virginia
is to elect John Raese as U. S. Senator. John has 1000 employees
and he knows the struggles they face in this economy. He knows the government is NO friend to American business — And John Raese didn’t endorse Obama for President as Joe Manchin did. Raese will fight for an Economic Recovery here in West Virginia. If you wish to save this country Vote for John Raese.
Recovery. He has our families vote.
Amen, Zara. You know John will have our back in Washington when it comes to better attitudes towards the job creators in West Virginia, whether small businesses or others. Joe Manchin has been too long in state government to remember how jobs are made…and kept.
John’s businesses in limestone and radio have been in West Virginia for 80 years. He’s not going anywhere, and he’s always wanted to see West Virginia’s private sector do better. That’s where the better jobs will always be, not some temporary government program.
I’ll be voting for John Raese in the primary because I know he can help fund a general election victory effort. I hope he wants to help candidates down ballot.
That’s one thing a lot of people don’t know about John. He always helps the whole ticket, doesn’t hang back like some other candidates who are only out for themselves. And even in the off season, John has done more to help groups like the Young Republicans than anyone else. So he’s a plus for the whole ticket. I think we have one of the strongest off-Presdiential Election year tickets ever with McKinley, Capito, Maynard, and now Raese aboard!