Posted on 10/15/2002 2:15:07 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
Mike Connolly Daily Mail Staff
Tuesday October 15, 2002; 11:00 AM
Not even the Republican Senatorial Committee thinks Jay Wolfe can unseat incumbent Democrat Jay Rockefeller in the West Virginia Senate race.
The committee can give Wolfe, 47, up to $202,000 to help his campaign. So far, they haven't given him a dime and the election is only three weeks away.
But Wolfe isn't complaining too much. He knows he is a long shot to beat Rockefeller.
"I guess I understand it," Wolfe said about the committee. "When I got into it, I didn't ask them if I should. I really didn't expect them to help me much."
So the Wolf Summit resident will try to beat an incumbent three-term senator from one of the wealthiest families in America with $100,000 and almost no name recognition.
But Wolfe is confident. He's challenged some tough politicians before and even won once.
With no money from the state Republican committee, Wolfe beat 14-year Legislature veteran Gino Colombo in 1986 to win a seat in the state Senate.
Two years later he ran against Sen. Robert Byrd for a seat in the U.S. Senate and lost by a considerable margin.
"Most people don't even remember that I ran," Wolfe said, but he also reminded the Daily Mail's editorial board Monday that he got 35 percent of the vote against Byrd -- which is better than most people can do against West Virginia's senior senator.
This year, even as his own party dismisses him as running a lost cause, Wolfe is confident he can win. Wolfe says that Rockefeller's assumed easy victory is the exact reason he will pull off an upset. He is concentrating his efforts on getting state Republicans out to vote.
He hopes that Democrats, certain of a Rockefeller victory, will stay home Nov. 5.
"The conventional wisdom says Rockefeller will win," he said. "I don't think he is nearly as well loved as Robert Byrd is. I think he is vulnerable."
A key plank in Wolfe's plan is pointing out how different he is than Rockefeller. He calls Rockefeller "a typical tax-and-spend liberal." Wolfe, a Baptist deacon at Clarksburg Baptist Church, is a fiscal and social conservative.
"Government needs to do as much as possible to get out of people's lives," Wolfe said.
He is staunchly pro-life, opposes the "radical homosexual agenda" and wants to take funding away from museums and theater groups that produce "pornography."
"I believe there is a war in this country right now over morals," Wolfe said.
When it comes to taxes, Wolfe has a plan to radically revamp the federal tax system.
If Wolfe were elected, he would work to abolish all federal income taxes including Social Security and Medicare deductions. To replace the tax base, he would create a national retail sales tax somewhere between 20 percent and 30 percent. Wolfe claims his plan would be revenue neutral and would stimulate the American economy.
"It would help our industrial base," Wolfe said. "We could become again the industrial giant that we used to be."
Wolfe also supports President Bush's plan for a war in Iraq, has the backing of the NRA when it comes to gun control and wants to cut taxes.
He is very clear about what he wants to do. Now all he has to do is pull off a seemingly impossible upset. But recent history seems to favor a Republican underdog in West Virginia.
"Nobody gave Bush a chance to win in this state in 2000 either," Wolfe said with a smile.
Writer Mike Connolly can be reached at 348-4806
I called the NRSC to inquire regarding their e-mail request for funds several weeks ago. When I called I asked exactly which races they would be involved in. I was told they are supporting ALL the races. I told them I would consider sending funds when they would show me they were financially supporting the Wolfe race. The response was a "put off" comment of 'we are looking into it'. So I left it that they would see nothing from me until they financially support Jay. I am a peon and my comments meant nothing to them. Do they care that I have contact lists from various states? It was no phase to them!! I don't think anything will rock them, or shake them loose from their cushioned seats of repose.
Chin up, EV! You are working hard and doing your best, if Rockefeller takes it you can at least know that you fought a good fight! The powers behind the money will be ultimately responsible for the loss, if Jay loses...and their message to the grassroots will be very clear. Unfortunately, it will also be a very sad message - - the people's voices are not being heard!
In case anyone would be interested in voicing their opinions to anyone about funds for the campaign......I believe I have found the NRSC phone number. Hmmmm! Try 202-675-6000 and see if you can help shake those branches loose of some $$$$! :-)
free dixie,sw
EV, What's with the new PO Box? Is Box 89 full? That's where I have been directing contributions... Please check it. Thanks.
How much are billboard ads? I think they'd be more effective if you could think of something to put on that's really attention getting.
I grew up in Tennessee and still have family there, but I no longer live in Tennessee. I really haven't followed the race as I would have liked. I have the link because I like him and want to see him win. I think GailA or MHGinTN would be better people to answer your question. My involvement this time is mostly in the Louisiana Senate race, and I haven't done as much here as I would have liked.
WFTR
Bill
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