I'm scratching my head a bit. I keep getting told that WV is lost to the GOP for the mid-terms. Actually, I've been hearing this since before any blue candidates had even decided to run. Which is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. But, if the GOP candidates have such a solid lock on the State then I find something baffling. Why is the GOP spending SO much money here?
Dive below to see the discussion.
Over the last month, and especially in the last 2 weeks, I've been deluged with ads and phone calls from the GOP Senate, and Congressional candidates. I'm not just talking about a couple, but I'm talking 2 or 3 calls a day. I'm getting Shelly Moore Capito ads via Dish Network satellite insert ads across all the cable networks. Now THAT's going to a lot of trouble to reach voters!
At least once a day for over a week I've gotten polled by either someone doing research for Alex Mooney (WV-02), or SMC (WV-Sen). Usually these are push polls, or market research, trying to gauge the effectiveness of their ads, how turned off you may be by their mud slinging/trash talk, or probing for a new issue to exploit for the next ad. I'm getting robo-calls from the NRA, and other conservative groups trashing Nick Casey (WV-02), and Natalie Tennant (WV-SEN), or generally trying to tarnish "Liberalism" (i.e., Obamacare, the EPA, etc....)
My point is, IF they are such a lock to win, and WV is SO lost. Why are they spending SO Much money on all this advertising, polling, and phone calls?? If the DS/CCC even smells that there's weakness in a Democratic candidate they pull all funds. Of course the Blue candidates don't have the benefit of huge infusions of cash from the Kochs, Blankinships, and other right wing organizations. However, being good business people, why dump money where it's not needed? If WV is bought and paid for already, why keep dumping money by the barrels full unless they still think there's something to worry about?
For whatever reason there seems to be no love at all for our Democratic candidates. Natalie Tennant is endorsed by Emily's List, Elizabeth Warren, the Mine Worker's Union, The Charleston Gazette, and Sen. Rockefeller who she hopes to replace. Her opponent Shelly Moore Capito is in the pocket of Wall St., takes funding from the Koch's, and has been running on ads that are mostly lies and smears, but get's all outraged about "personal attacks" when a Tennant ad points out her Wall St. ties, and how she has benefitted from them.
Alex Mooney, the GOP candidate for WV-02 is a carpetbagger, who doesn't even live in WV. Was booted out of MD politics, and at the last minute signed up to try fill the opening that will be left by SMC. He wants to bring his ultra-conservative, tea-bag, philosophy to the House representing WV, now that MD found him too wing-nutty to represent them!
I just wanted people to know what kind of representatives WV is "Lost" to! But, they sure seem to be scared of something, cuz they are spending money by the buckets full against candidates who are supposedly completely beaten, and don't have 2 nickels to rub together.
So, maybe WV isn't quite so lost. I've not seen a reliable poll here in, well....forever. And, to my reasoning, the right doesn't just spend money for nothing, so they must still have some concern.
I hope this may persuade folks out there to give our Blue Mountaineer Candidates a little love in terms of support, and donations... I believe that in a state where dems outnumber repubs 2x1, some GOTV calls, and elbow grease can go a long way! Some cash to buy more ads in a very cheap media market can't hurt either! Go to ACT BLUE and give a little help.
The GOP sure hasn't given up on WV... Why Have We??