 | ||||
-------
Search the Republican Gazette ---->
The Republican Gazette
Please make sure to hit your refresh button for the current edition
VISIT NO MO MOJO
In the text box below, nominate your West Virginia Republican of the Year, and describe in a few words why he or she should be selected.
REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
UPDATED DAILY!
Mojo9/24/08
9/24/08GET YOUR 'DEGREE!' (Click image for details!)
Weeks, Manchin square off in final debate tonight
Former Senator Russ Weeks, left, and Gov. Joe Manchin will face off in the final of four debates tonight in Morgantown, along with Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson.
| ||||
Public TV debate shows clear differences between candidates
The debate among West Virginia gubernatorial hopefuls on Sunday sponsored by Public Broadcasting and The Associated Press offered an excellent and concise picture of the stark differences between the candidates. You can listen to it here, and it is worth your time. As Gov. Joe Manchin was overheard to say at the end of the Sunday debate, "One more to go, right?" Right. Tonight in Morgantown.After three informative debates, former Sen. Russ Weeks and Gov. Joe Manchin will face off tonight for the final debate of the 2008 campaign.Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson will also be on hand, but even in debates where he has been included, the real sparks have been between Weeks and Manchin, as the former Raleigh County senator consistently challenges the governor on the degree scandal at West Virginia University, his economic policies, and the subject of cronyism in the state's government.Tonight's debate gets underway at 6:30 p.m. in Morgantown at South Middle School's auditorium. The public is welcome. Dem voter reg in WV drops by 7% over the course of last decade
Democrats are still the power in West Virginia, but their ranks among registered voters have dropped by about seven percent over the course of the past 10 years. And both Republican and unaffiliated voters have grown in real numbers more than Democrat voters.In 1998, registered Democrats accounted for about 63 percent of all voters in the state. Today, according to figures released by the Secretary of State, that figure stands at roughly 56 percent. Over the same time period, Republican registration has held steady, in the 29 to 30 percent range. The big gain has been among unaffiliated voters, whose ranks have almost doubled. In 1998, those voters accounted for about eight percent of all voters. Today, they make up about 14 percent of the electorate in West Virginia.Officially, there are now about 1.2 million registered voters in West Virginia, including about 675,000 Democrats, 353,000 Republicans, and 167,000 unaffiliated voters. People registered to various other minor parties number around 15,000, and there are fewer than a thousand Mountain Party voters. Since 1998, in real numbers, unaffiliated voters have grown by 87,833, Republicans have gained 57,612 voters, and Democrats have grown by just 43,017.West Virginia Voter Registration 1998-2008
DemocratsRepublicansUnaffiliated1998632,288295,82579,278
632,288295,82579,2782008675,305353,437167,111
675,305353,437167,111Diff.+43,017+57,612+87,833
+43,017+57,612+87,833Walker lines up newspaper nods
Supreme Court candidate Beth Walker continues to line up newspaper endorsements from across the state. Here are some samplings.Charleston Daily Mail
“Endorsement”
“Walker, a Republican, joined the law firm of Bowles, Rice, McDavid, Graff and Love right out of law school in 1990 and was made a partner seven years later. She has handled cases in 30 counties, and has been cited as one of the "Best Lawyers in America," published by Woodward/White. Active in the community and in her church for many years, she serves on the Alumni Executive Board of Hillsdale College, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1987. Walker would make a cool, professional and fair justice, which is what all West Virginians deserve.”Huntington Herald Dispatch
“Editorial: New faces are needed on West Virginia Supreme Court”
“Walker brings something different. She brings a balance that Workman cannot. As a conservative Republican, Walker can debate cases and law with an outlook that is unlike those of the justices who would be her colleagues on the court. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has a reputation for having drifted too far into an anti-business philosophy. Walker could help move the court to the center, where it should be.” Wheeling News Register/The Intelligencer
“Elect Workman, Walker to Court”
“Walker is an experienced lawyer who has practiced in more than half of the state's counties. She has been endorsed by many organizations, including the West Virginia Family Foundation, the Farm Bureau, the National Rifle Association, the state Medical Association and the state Chamber of Commerce. At least two national publications have recognized her as one of the best attorneys in the United States.” Elkins - The InterMountain
“Workman, Walker Are a Winning Combination for West Virginia”
“Walker is an experienced lawyer who has practiced in more than half of the state's counties. She has been endorsed by many organizations, including the West Virginia Family Foundation, the Farm Bureau, the National Rifle Association, the state Medical Association and the state Chamber of Commerce. At least two national publications have recognized her as one of the best attorneys in the United States.” Greear lauded, McGraw blasted by Wheeling paper
The Wheeling News-Register/Intelligencer (why can't it choose a name?) has praised Republican Attorney General candidate Dan Greear and blasted incumbent Darrell McGraw in an editorial focusing on that hot election. The paper says, "Our state has put up with Darrell McGraw for far too long. It’s time to show him the door."