Manchin Still "Dogged by Obama" in West Virginia
Shinnston, West Virginia -- Democratic Governor Joe Manchin is running for the Senate seat formerly held by Robert Byrd, and to some it looks like he's running away from President Obama as fast as he can.
Manchin dropped in on a Spaghetti Dinner at Saint Ann's Catholic Church in Shinnston, West Virginia on Sunday, shaking hands and talking to parishioners who ate plates of spaghetti after attending mass. President Obama is hugely unpopular here where the coal industry is a massive part of the economy, mostly because of his stance on cap and trade legislation. Manchin takes every chance he gets to distance himself from Mr. Obama, "[The Obama administration] went too far... whether it be health care, cap and trade, the EPA regulations we're fighting."
However, at St. Ann's where along with the spaghetti dinner fundraiser they were also raffling off a Remington rifle, Manchin still could not escape the president, "You got too close to Obama," said one parishioner, pointing at Manchin. "That's what's defeating you."
Manchin politely fired back, "You've been watching too much television."
Yeah right, Joe. The electorate is way too informed.
.... [U.S. Labor Secretary] Secretary Hilda Solis will join Governor Joe Manchin, Congressman Alan Mollohan and others at the Federal No. 2 Mine on the Monongalia-Marion county line. Federal No. 2 is owned by Patriot Coal and is one of the largest underground mines in the state.
Too bad that in other news at the time, Patriot Coal said they were closing a mine in southern West Virginia and eliminating between three and four hundred jobs.
"The mine being closed produces about 2.5 million tons of coal a year. Employees were notified that they’ll lose their jobs as of Oct. 5th."
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin and former President Bill Clinton wave... at a rally for... Barack Obama... in Beckley, W.Va., on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008.
Ironically? Coincidentally? Definitely strange: Clinton will be in Beckley again today - Nov. 1, 2010 - to campaign for Manchin (and Rahall). But I doubt they'll be touting either Barack Obama OR Change.
Comments