It's beginning to look like incumbent Alan Mollohan is going down to defeat against Mike Oliverio in WV-1. The district includes Wheeling and Morgantown, and covers the northwestern part of the state. With over 50% of the vote in, Mollohan is trailing 57-43.
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Oliverio is not just your typical blue dog southern, or border state, Democrat. He's a Republican masquerading as a Democrat. Just look at some of his views:
Oliverio is considered to be a conservative Democrat and has espoused issues such as reducing the national debt. He identifies as pro-life and is opposed to abortion rights. He also supports an amendment to the West Virginia Constitution to ban gay marriage.
Along with Delegate Jonathan Miller, a Republican, he serves as the state co-chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group which that seeks "to advance the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty". Oliverio was also thanked in a 2006 speech by President George W. Bush for his assistance in securing the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court. Bush said, "I appreciate Senator Michael Oliverio, he's here. Mike I think did the country a great service when he worked on behalf of Judge Sam Alito to get him confirmed by the United States Senate. I appreciate your -- I want to thank you for that, Mike."
On March 20, 2010, West Virginia Republican Party chair Doug McKinney referred to Oliverio's conservative political leanings by saying, "Sen. Oliverio has always been a conservative guy. He votes with the Republican on committees. We've joked for years he needs to come over to the party who thinks like he does."
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That last paragraph is no joke. Oliverio has said that he might not vote for Nancy Pelosi for speaker. If he's elected, don't be surprised if he jumps ship to the Republicans. He won't take as long as Parker Griffith did. Whichever Republican wins the primary might as well win the general election. At least that candidate will run as a Republican, and will not serve as an embarassment to the Democratic party as Oliverio will. Whether he stays or goes.
UPDATE The AP has called the race for Oliverio.