Wealthy Businessman to Challenge Byrd

Associated Press ^ | Jan 25 | LAWRENCE MESSINA,

[george76]

A multimillionaire businessman entered the GOP race to challenge Sen. Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday, hoping to deny the 88-year-old incumbent Democrat a record ninth term.

John Raese, 55, said he would campaign on a platform touting free enterprise ...

a rebirth of capitalism...

The National Republican Senatorial Committee heralded the filing by Raese, a former state GOP chairman who has sought office before.

Though four other Republicans are running in the party primary, the GOP committee called Raese "the first financially credible opponent Byrd has faced since 1982."

Raese's last major foray into election politics came nearly 18 years ago.

With narrow losses each time, he ran against Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., in 1984 and challenged then Gov.-Arch Moore in the 1988 GOP primary.

[LdSentinal]

Byrd has a pathological hatred for Bush's nominees to the courts. He, and his sheets, need to be flushed.

[staytrue]

Monyihan was one of my favorites too.

I also liked Wellstone. Did not like his views, but I respected him as a person.

I can't think of a single rat senator that I like.

[demkicker]

I do believe Byrd's jig is up. Even the morons who have supported him in the past have to realize the old coot's days are numbered, not to mention that he's a national disgrace and reflects poorly on West Virginians.

I doubt he's got the energy or the mental capacity to debate his opponent or go through the required campaign rigors. Lucky for us!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Or even William Proxmire with his "Golden Fleece Awards". Where are the people to replace them?

[LdSentinal]

Oh. This is the same guy that ran against Byrd in 1984 and almost beat him.

[Katya]

I can actually understand why people keep voting for Byrd...at this point it's tradition. What I can't fathom is why and elitist like Rockerfeller is still in office...the averge west virginian cannot possibly relate to him.