The Other McCain

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Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to Retire

Posted on | January 11, 2013 | 10 Comments

This news creates a huge opportunity for Republicans in 2014 in an increasingly GOP-leaning state:

Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller will not run for reelection in 2014, passing up a bid for a sixth term and putting in play a Senate seat in deep red West Virginia.

(Via Memeorandum.) The big question, of course, is whether West Virginia Republicans — from the party leadership down to the grassroots — can come together and nominate an electable candidate who can generate widespread enthusiasm from the conservative base.

UPDATE: Ed Morrissey offers this analysis:

[Republican Rep. Shelley] Moore Capito has a lot more experience in running for office in West Virginia than previous candidates. She may not be a Tea Party darling — at least not yet — but she has been an effective campaigner in the state. It certainly seems to have provided the impetus to drive Rockefeller into retirement in a state that kept re-electing Robert Byrd even when it became clear he wasn’t up to the task.

After two years of woe for Senate GOP campaigns caused by incompetence and internal divisions, we have to cross our fingers and hope that Republicans can avoid needless blunders in 2014.

Category: Democrats, Election, Senate, West Virginia

Comments

10 Responses to “Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to Retire”

  1. richard mcenroe
    January 11th, 2013 @ 10:38 am

    I’m sure the VAGOP has a candidate at least as viable as Carly Fiorina…

  2. Laree Lee
    January 11th, 2013 @ 10:44 am

    Finally!

  3. Laree Lee
    January 11th, 2013 @ 10:57 am

    Laree Lee liked this on Facebook.

  4. smitty
    January 11th, 2013 @ 12:16 pm

    I’m wondering (a) if Artur Davis has any designs on a Senate run in 2014 for the furniture cluttered by Mark Warner, and (b) if VA’s convention will be successful enough to keep away from primaries going forward, to factor out the George Allens.

  5. Finrod Felagund
    January 11th, 2013 @ 1:41 pm

    Here’s hoping that West Virginia 2014 doesn’t go the way of North Dakota 2012 (how the hell did we lose in North freakin’ Dakota, anyways?).

  6. Freddie Sykes
    January 11th, 2013 @ 2:21 pm

    RE: After two years of woe for Senate GOP campaigns caused by incompetence and internal divisions

    Cannot do much about it if the people pick an incompetent candidate but we need to call out establishment Republicans who refuse to support the primary winners. We need to tell the Dick Lugers that anyone short of a David Duke is preferable to one who will vote for Harry Reid to head the Senate. No more of taking your ball home if you do not get picked.

  7. Evi L. Bloggerlady
    January 11th, 2013 @ 2:29 pm

    Screwed up government, West Virginia
    Robert Byrd’s name is on everything…
    Democrat control is old there, older than the trees
    Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

    Chorus:
    Guns and coal, elect someone
    Who will not sell you out
    West Virginia, Mountain Mama
    Elect a conservative native son [or daughter as the case may be]

    All my memories, gathered ’round her
    Miners’ Lady, stranger to blue water
    Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
    Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

    Chorus

    I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me
    The radio reminds me of my home far away
    And drivin’ down the road I get the feeling
    That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

  8. Jaynie59
    January 11th, 2013 @ 3:43 pm

    Ed Morrissey is the LAST person any conservative should listen to for anything.
    When are you people going to wise up? Yeah, I know. Never. Anybody who thinks the Republicans will keep the House in 2014 is delusional. Every conservative holding a House or Senate seat needs to switch their party affiliation to Independent or Libertarian as soon as possible. Today. NOW. Get as far away from the Republican Party as possible. Because it’s over. By 2014 they’ll be lucky to win in red states after Obama gets through with the GOP. Think that’s an “extreme” thing to say? Wait. It’s gonna get ugly.

  9. Quartermaster
    January 11th, 2013 @ 6:45 pm

    If the GOP does not wise up, quick, 2014 will be a disaster for the party. I have serious doubts Capito will win next year.

  10. Fishersville Mike: No Rocky VI
    January 14th, 2013 @ 12:52 pm

    […] Rocky VI West Virginia senator Jay Rockefeller has decided to call it a senate career after five terms. Would he like coal as a present for his farewell? Posted by Mike at […]