In 2004, Bush carried the WV-03 by 53.21% to 46.06%; in 2000, Gore carried it 51%-47%. This is the least Republican district in the state, and Congressman Rahall is well suited for the constituency (very liberal on economics, but pro-life and pro-gun). I think Sheriff Wolfe would really need to hit Rahall hard on the War on Terror (Rahall is an Arab-American and has tended to oppose ethnic profiling and other tools in the WOT) if he's to have a chance at an upset.
But even if Wolfe doesn't win, it's good that the WV GOP gets some good candidates to run against Dem incumbents.
A race against Rahall sounds like a non-starter this year. But candidacies like this are necessary in order to build the GOP in West Virginia. It is a good growth opportunity for us, and with patience and hard work, there will be some results in the next few cycles.
And of course, if Byrd retires, we have a good chance in the Senate race.
You never know, Byrd may be forced to retire and then dominoes would start to fall. We have to be ready for that possibility.
In 2000 WV was a red state. Bush took it by 2 pts. if I recall. A great surprise to the democrats.