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The Republican Gazette
HAVING FUN WITH MOJO
"Travelin' Man"
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
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REPUBLICAN OF THE YEAR
Weeks, Manchin tentatively set for four debate face-offs
So far, GOP gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks and Gov. Joe Manchin will likely face off in four debates sponsored by various media entities.Weeks has firmly agreed to debates sponsored by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, the Morgantown Dominion-Post and, most recently, WSAZ-TV. Those entities report that Manchin has also agreed to their debate invitations, but official confirmation has not been received in every case.Most of the debates will be held throughout October, with the WSAZ event tentatively scheduled for Nov. 1.Weeks has consistently challenged Manchin to engage in seven regional debates across West Virginia."It is my hope that the governor will not deprive the people of West Virginia of the opportunity to hear the clear differences between our approaches to state government by severely limiting the number of times he is willing to engage in face-to-face debates," said Weeks. A couple of different reports have indicated that when President Bush touches down in West Virginia aboard Air Force One for an address at the Greenbrier Resort on Thursday, Gov. Joe Manchin will be there to greet him.Bush has been in West Virginia numerous times since Manchin became governor, but this marks the first time the state's chief executive has bothered to meet him on the tarmac, if indeed he is.The timing of the first rolling out of the welcome mat from the gov to the prez in the Mountain State is curious at best. Manchin has been loud and proud in his support of Barack Obama, at least since the moment when there was no doubt that Obama would be carrying the Democrat mantle into the November election.And the Obama forces are doing everything in their power to link GOP 
Will Manchin be on hand to greet Bush, and why?
presidential nominee John McCain to Bush in a negative way, as in "McCain-Bush" this and "McCain-Bush" that.
So Mojo's sudden lack of shyness in regard to the president seems odd, with the presidential election just three months away and counting, leading to the obvious question -- is this Manchin's way of sending a big stage wink to the rest of West Virginia, as in, I may say I support Obama, but look who I'm greeting at the airport?Enquiring minds want to know. REPEAT PERFORMANCE? President Bush welcomed Gov. Joe Manchin to Washington in 2006, and Manchin may be returning the favor when Bush lands in West Virginia on Thursday.
So far, Obama continues to leave West Virginia alone
For Barack Obama, West Virginia is akin to The Land Time Forgot. He has no noticeable presence or staff in the state. He has not visited West Virginia since before the primary election. The "West Virginia for Obama" page of the Obama website features profiles of supporters from Pennsylvania, Missouri and Colorado. So far, Obama is to West Virginia as oil is to water.John McCain has received some criticism for so far making just briefs stops in the state, but compared to Obama, McCainpractically qualifies for residency. Lip service from Gov. Joe Manchin aside, Barack Obama seems about as interested in West Virginia as a vampire is in sunbathing.
Obama's lack of widespread support in West Virginia and his own obvious recognition of as much must give down-ticket Democrats a severe case of anxiety. Despite their bluster, knowing that straight-ticket voting is being violated from the very first race on the ballot makes them realize that their GOP opponents start out with several more points from the get-go.Where does Obama stand on Iraq?
