Posted on 04/11/2005 9:11:05 AM PDT by areafiftyone
State Republican Party Treasurer Hiram Lewis IV announced over the weekend that he planned to seek his party's nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd in 2006.
Lewis, an Army National Guard captain who served in Iraq, picked the second anniversary of the fall of Baghdad to announce his plans. The Morgantown lawyer made his announcement near the base of a statue of West Virginia's senior Democratic senator at the state Capitol in Charleston.
"My candidacy is not a personal vendetta against the senior senator; rather it is simply time for a change," said Lewis, who lost the GOP nomination to challenge Democrat Sen. Jay Rockefeller in 2002. Lewis came close to upsetting Democrat Attorney General Darrell McGraw in November.
Byrd has been targeted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee for defeat in next year's election. The 87-year-old Byrd has served 45 years in the Senate and has yet to declare his re-election bid, but his office has said he intends to seek a ninth, six-year term. Byrd spokesman Tom Gavin could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday.
Lewis, 34, said he is not running "against" Byrd, but "with" him.
"I believe we both have the interests of West Virginians at heart. It is just that we disagree over the way to protect and serve those interests," Lewis said.
Almost sounds like he has that Frist gene.
Perhaps not, but many of us (if we lived in WV, would vote for him as a personal vendetta against Byrd. I know I would.
Oh you mean the "sleeping sickness gene"! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! ;-)
Now that is a very good question. Does anyone have any ideas?
I've seen that statue (if it's the one inside the capitol building) - - what a monstrosity. It's got to be one of the most unflattering statues I've ever seen.
Well...it sounds better than "I want to beat that old Klansman like a redheaded stepchild" doesn't it??
Byrd brain will never lose because of the pork-barrel projects he's given to WV.
Just want to make sure but you do know that pic is doctored, yes?
Is this really a mystery? He's a Democrat.
Give the candidate a chance to spell out his positions and see if you agree or disagree before you call him names.
"The Morgantown lawyer made his announcement near the base of a statue of West Virginia's senior Democratic Senator at the state Capitol in Charleston."
Wouldn't it be great if Captain Lewis won and then the emancipated people of West Virginia pulled down the Byrd statue just like the Iraqi's pulled down Saddam's statue?
Just want to make sure but you do know that pic is doctored, yes?
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Oh yeah, but it states the truth - and that is what is important - this hypocrite and his racist background.
Kind of like CBS stance on the Bush memos? ;)
Im kidding, but I know what you mean.
Disagree..the guy's smart...there is considerable speculation about Sheet's health..old people tend to go downhill fast, when it happens.Look at Bunning..a few bad appearances almost cost him his seat last time..This guy will disagree respectfully with Byrd, thank him for all he has done, and politely suggest that it is time for a change..Nature may well give this seat to the GOP..
I am not saying anything about Lewis-but Byrd-who I KNOW I don't agree with.
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