And the Governorship wouldn’t have been won at all in 1996 had the far-left in the state not nominated Charlotte Pritt for the Dems. The Dem Establishment backed the safe and non-nutty Republican ex-Gov. Cecil Underwood in the general. It’s astonishing to consider that not since 1928 has a Republican not named Underwood or Moore won the Governorship. Same thing for Senator, not since 1928 has someone not named Moore (-Capito) or Revercomb won a full term (I exclude Hugh Ike Shott, an old Class of 1928’er Congressman, who won the 6-week term in 1942 for the Neely vacancy).
Funny now to realize if WV & VA reunited, the former would push VA back into the GOP column across-the-board.
Manchin announces he will not run for Governor but will run for reelection to the Senate in 2018.
http://news.yahoo.com/west-virginias-joe-manchin-says-hell-run-again-153105294—election.html