Democrat Wins West Virginia Governor’s Race
- Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:17pm by
Scott Baker
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin overcame weeks of Republican attack ads to win the West Virginia governor’s race Tuesday, successfully distancing himself from the Obama administration and the president’s health care plan.
Tomblin, who has been acting governor for the past year, will finish the final year of a term left vacant by Joe Manchin, a well-liked governor who stepped down after he won a U.S. Senate seat.
The race was fraught with negative ads from both sides and narrowed in the final weeks. The national parties spent millions of dollars on each campaign.
With 65 percent of precincts reporting, Tomblin had 50 percent of the vote compared with Maloney’s 46 percent, according to unofficial results.
Tomblin, a veteran state lawmaker, fended off questions about his mother’s greyhound breeding business and efforts to tie him to Obama. Republicans were upset Tomblin didn’t join a majority of other states who sued the administration over the health care plan.
Obama lost West Virginia in 2008 and remains wildly unpopular here, but Tomblin got a replay of last year’s U.S. Senate special election, when Manchin beat back efforts to tie him to Obama.
The Obama ads featured images of the president floating on the screen with Tomblin. One spot asks: “What’s Gov. Tomblin doing about Obamacare? Absolutely nothing.”
Of at least 21 spots that aired, 15 were attack ads. The negative ads turned Dushyant Shekhawat against Maloney.
“He’s not fighting against Tomblin; he’s fighting against Obama. That I don’t like. He should concentrate his run against Tomblin,” said Shekhawat, a federal employee at the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
The link to the president resonated with Mark Gingerich, who voted for Maloney, a millionaire businessman and former drilling company executive who promised to bring more jobs to the state.
“I think it’s important right now to have a conservative Republican governor because the states are going to have to do something together to do away with Obamacare, the socialized medicine,” Gingerich said.
Tomblin, meanwhile, used ads to blame Maloney for sending jobs to Pennsylvania when the drilling firm he co-founded moved there. But the relocation came four years after Maloney sold his shares in the company.
Tomblin campaigned as the rightful heir to Manchin. He said together they helped shape policies that created pain-free balanced budgets and revenue surpluses at a time when other states continued to struggle during the recession.
But Tomblin wasn’t as well known as Manchin, who resigned during his second term. Tomblin became acting governor because of his position as Senate president, a job he held longer than anyone else in the state.
Tomblin drew a contrast between himself and Obama by saying West Virginia was far more economically sound than the country. The state has an unemployment rate below both the national rate and also has begun gradually cutting both business and consumer taxes, while improving its Wall Street credit rating and emergency reserves, points frequently noted by Tomblin’s campaign.
Like Manchin, Tomblin sparred with tougher coal mining regulations from the Obama administration, keeping up a lawsuit the former governor filed against the Environmental Protection Agency’s handling of permits.
Tomblin has represented the heart of the southern coalfields as a legislator since 1974, and the mining industry has long been crucial to the state’s economic health. West Virginia’s Coal Association endorsed Tomblin, and the energy sector was his chief source for campaign cash.
Republicans had angled for an outcome similar to last month’s upset in a New York City special congressional election, in which Obama’s favorability loomed large.
“We don’t want Tomblin back in there,” said retiree Janet Varney, who along with her husband voted for Maloney. “We just believe he will follow Obama’s policies — and we don‘t agree with Obama’s policies.”
While West Virginia has had a Democratic governor for the last decade, it has not elected a governor from the southern part of the state since the 1960s. The GOP seized on the region’s reputation for political corruption in this race.
Both Maloney and the Republican Governors Association, which has spent at least $3.4 million attacking Tomblin since late August, used ads to make an issue of a greyhound breeding business run by his mother. They claimed Tomblin wrongly diverted money to a state fund that benefits greyhound breeders.
Tomblin said the breeder with the fastest dogs, not state officials, determines who reaps the proceeds.
Richard Farley, of Morgantown, is a registered Republican. He said he was torn until the last minute.
“It was a rough one because I had a choice between Maloney, who stands for nothing, and Tomblin, who — well, I can‘t support anyone who’s ever been involved in gambling,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I had to go with Maloney,” Farley said. “I personally don’t see him getting re-elected. But I can’t personally see supporting someone who made money off of gambling.”
The Obama-themed ads turned him off, too.
“I’m not sure what the president has to do with the gubernatorial race in West Virginia. That’s kind of a non-issue,” he said.
Maloney, a political newcomer, focused on the state’s high poverty ranking and touted his experience as an employer. He vowed to take West Virginia in a new direction by aggressively targeting its tax structure, regulatory policies and court system. He also campaigned on his contribution to the rescue plan that freed the 33 trapped Chilean miners last year, saying he provided drilling expertise.
Tomblin and America Works USA, bankrolled by the Democratic Governors Association, targeted Maloney over whether his businesses paid their taxes on time. America Works devoted at least $2.4 million to negative ads.
Tomblin also touted endorsements from groups ranging from the National Rifle Association and the state Chamber of Commerce to the United Mine Workers union and West Virginia AFL-CIO.
Tuesday’s winner will have to resume campaigning almost immediately to keep the seat: It’s up again in 2012 for a full four-year term.
___
Associated Press writer Vicki Smith in Morgantown and Pam Ramsey and John Raby in Charleston contributed to this report.
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Comments (52)
palerider54
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:34amI am from WV. I have fought to operate a small business in this state for over 30 yrs.
WV will be like Greece, once Obama shuts down the coal industry and the revenue stops flowing, they will be marching in the streets of Charleston, with a look of ” WHAT HAPPENED, WHY DIDN’T SOMEONE DO SOMETHING”
I will be relocating my business and its 15 to 20 good paying jobs to OH.
Then my now OH competition won’t have such a huge advantage over me.
They don’t have to pay property tax on their equipment every yr., I do.
They have lower payroll taxes.
They have lower corp taxes.
WV has it all, coal, gas, oil, timber, recreation, white water rafting, a great interstate road system, river transportation, and contrary to popular belief, a great work force.
Yet we are at the bottom of all the good lists, and at the top of all the bad lists.
Could it be because we keep voting Democrat and expecting a different outcome? NAWWWWW
After 70 yrs of Democratic rule, maybe this time it will be different.
WE ARE THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY. PUT THE STATE EMBLEM BESIDE IT IN THE DICTIONARY.
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 11:34amCongratulations to the ignorant ppl of WV for once again voting for more ignorance and incompetence in your statehouse. What will it take for these ppl to wake up? Very saddened to read this article today. Really thought you had woken up. Very disappointing…
Report Post »palerider54
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:05pmOld Glory, you have no idea how frustrating it is.
We had less than 20 per cent of voter turn out. Its been this way for so long, I guess people just think their one vote won’t make a difference.
It gives me shivers to think the same thing might happen in 2012
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:37pmthe 20% turnout is mind boggling. I guess if there is a silver lining, it is that this is just for one year till the next go around. The reelection of Byrd all those years tells ya something. Stayed in WV over Labor Day weekend on the Ohio/WV border. You do have a beautiful state, I can give ya that…
Report Post »ShyLow
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:53pmI live in W.V. and couldn’t find any information on the canidates…We need a tea-party channel strickly devoted to hosting debates,for local,state,and federal elections…I’m tired of getting small crumbs of biased information from the MSM…I would run for office myself,if I had any chance of being heard…Every state should have an election channel that host debates…The only source of information to go on is from attack ads…and before any one says just vote Republican…I just want to point out Tomlin could just switch parties…Please some one start an election channel for hosting local and state political debates…Help end the ignorance…The powers that be thrive on ignorance
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:19pmUnbelievabley stupid WV……..that’s all.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:56pmAnother ACORN victory. ACORN is just warming up for the 2012 election.
Report Post »rwinger261
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:45pmWV‘s problems go back to 1863 when it joined the Yankee liberal’s in their violent destruction of liberty. What else can one expect?
Report Post »floridaswampthing
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:14amWest Virginia has always voted Democrat and they always will. It won’t matter if the Democrats finally succeed at destroying their lively hood, the coal industry, they will still vote Democrat. Just once can‘t y’all vote to better yourselves and your state? And Herman Cain said that Black Americans were brainwashed. They aren’t the only ones. I think the whole Democrat party is brainwashed.
Report Post »floridaswampthing
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:09amWest Virginia has always voted Democrat and then they complain. If just once they’d vote GOP things would change for the better. I guess when the Democrats finally end the coal industry for Wv. they will complain and still vote Democrat. Herman Cain said Black Americans are brainwashed, well they aren’t the only ones.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:09amHhhmm, I thought there was supposed to be a huge Repub shift…curiouser and curiouser ;^)
Report Post »michael48
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 11:16amI‘m sure there’s a bridge still available , just for you…hurry though , appears all the cardboard housing will be spoken for…Utopia is running out of Wal-Mart TV box , Dem-wit housing…serfdom suits you well…comrade…
Report Post »libertydoc
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:03amWest Virginia is a giant welfare state. Do you imagine this vote would have gone any other way?
Report Post »ScreaminEagle
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 9:48amThe Scocialist Republic of West Virginia. What do you expect from the Hillbilly State? What was that definition for insanity?
Report Post »YesNdeedie
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:34amWV had a chance to send a strong message to DC. However, our of the 1.2 million voters (65% registered democrats and 35% republicans) the news reported only 17 to 20% cast their vote. This is absolutely not acceptable by any standard of the imagination. The only voice we have is our vote and yet approximately 80% of the voters chose to set on their hands and say nothing. They, the dems, did not win, the republicans lost by staying home.
Report Post »ScreaminEagle
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 10:04amStupid is as stupid does. Hillbilly state earned their reputation.
Report Post »TxMadMac
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:00amGee, I think if I push the D button and pull the lever then Obama will like us and we can go back to work right ? WOW Mental midgets all !
Report Post »kirkc18
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:36pmI believe you’re a bit ridiculous in you assertion sir. I have lived in WV all my life, and I am pretty certain I am quite intelligent. Unfortunately those of us with higher intelligence cant seem to out-breed those of lower intelligence. We have several active tea parties who tried to stop this. I don’t believe your derogatory and divisive statement really helps anything. Complaining about the results is one thing but to blame all of us for a small majority’s mistake seems a bit brash.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:33amthere is no democrates left they are progressives now only the backward west Vegs haven’t gotten the message
Report Post »FIVEHOLEJAMO
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:31am“I’m not sure what the president has to do with the gubernatorial race in West Virginia. That’s kind of a non-issue,” he said.
that’s like saying “I’m not sure what the secretary of state in each election has to do with the final outcome of the vote….West Virginia is proving itself to be lost …
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:29amWell they can say good bye to all the minning jobs guess they haven’t learned their lesson yet
Report Post »Shrugged
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:16amI am going to stop feeling any allegiance to West Virginia if they keep doing this. I guess being coal miners, a death wish is still buried deep inside.
Report Post »Brae
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:12amWell, you get what you vote for. However, do NOT coming to the Federal Gov, and my taxes to bail you guys out when your State collapses under the weight of EPA.
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:02amPeople need to stop voting for their “party”, the divide in this country is on purpose. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. Not just a cute slogan that graces our dollar bill, The socialist party is using our Constitution and our way of life as a bible on how to destroy us. Each party dem/rep is being manipulated. and people need to start to realize this.
Ask yourself this, what has Oblahblah done, 700 billion in stimulus (for the rich bilderburg) and zero for the slaves, oh I mean the citizens. Think about it, a true leader would have cut deals with wal-mart and the like to stop buying from chinese sweat shops and produce here. One example of a true leader.
Just because you “think” you are a democrat does not mean if they jump off a cliff you should too.
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:11am@TheePolitinator
Report Post »“…The socialist party is using our Constitution and our way of life as a bible on how to destroy us…”
As are the Moooozlums.
Elect another Demoncrap. Humm. Stupid is, as stupid does. When will they ever learn? The lesser of two evils is even better than what they’ve chosen.
Pat Alexander
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:50amSlow learners these folks.
Obama & the Dems want to shut their state down & still they vote Dem.
I was a long time ticket splitter when voting. After the last few years, I will never vote for a Dem. Even for dogcatcher…
Report Post »MachIV
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:43amWest Virginia, like Kentucky, is another state that only accidentally votes Republican……..occasionally.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:24amThe Democrats want to bankrupt the coal industry and these idiots keep voting them into office and giving them the power to do just that. Sorry about the idiots remark BUT VOTING FOR A DEMOCRAT IN WV (OR ANYWHERE) IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:30am… those in WV know better. Its just that their political system is pure corruption, all modeled after Sen. Byrd, who we all know was as corrupt as they come … there is little the people there can do about any of it.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:05amDisappointed in WV voters. Knew the state usually went democrat but thought they would rebel at what the Obumbler administration is doing to the coal mining industry. Still 2% points isn’t exactly a landslide.
OMG – Psalm 109:8
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:47amLet’s see how well Obama does there in 2012 …. having to distance himself from himself!
TEA!
Cain/Rubio 2012
Report Post »olddog
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:49amThe W. Va. Coal industry has been ravaged by obama and the dems. , thousands of families strugling to survive. W. Va wants a dem. to lead them, I don’t get it.
Report Post »JimCDew
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:53amWest Virginia is one of the poorest states and is about to get poorer when Obama policies break the back of the coal industry. Watch them vote Republican when unemployment goes over 25%.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:27amNo they won’t. SOME people never learn and apparently W.V.ians are the SOME.
Report Post »Bill Burns
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:50amBoth sides know it now – The best, perhaps the only way to win is to slam ObamaCare and Obama himself.
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:36amAny Democrat that will go back to the old JFK Democrat ways and is against Obama in every fashion, I won’t mind winning a race… its the liberal looney Dem’s that need to be kept out of office and the Liberal RINO republicans who are even more dangerous….
We need old school Dem‘s back and to weed out the Rino’s — this isn’t Left vs Right, its Right vs Wrong and we need ALL of the liberals out of our government pronto!
Report Post »reform
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:03amLike your post I was once one of them demo”s for 45 years then went to rep’s for some years and now I am a independent.
Report Post »MachIV
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:45amThe Democrats you speak of do not exist anymore.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 3:24amI don’t think that the Democrats will be touting his race since he distanced himself from everything Obama. Anyhoo, he’s just filling out a term. He’ll soon be up for re-election.
Report Post »Sutter Buttes
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:45amAll those mining jobs WV is loosing? Too bad. Lay with dogs, you get-up with fleas. Keep electing Democrats, keep getting the same old shuffle from the POS -in-Chief. He doesn’t need to win you because already owns you!
Report Post »robertmedwards
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:02amI have to wonder how anyone could vote for a democrat these days.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 2:19amEver been to West Virginia?
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 12:56amAt least there was a Republican brave enough to stand up to Tomblin, Mr. Democrat Machine! We had 5 people to choose from and lots of West Virginians don’t even know who Maloney is. . .even in my family.who never misses voting. Since taking Joe’s place this past year, you would think that this Democrat Machine was Ronald Regan. I am sure Manchin, Rockefeller along with Rayhall political power got the Job done; however, winning by 2 points is not saying much for all the registered Democrats in this state. This is not a right to work state; therefore, when a Republican wins, it is a miracle to behold! 2010 is coming up fast! The good old boy from Logan County will be watched to see if he continues to act like he is a Republican.
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on October 5, 2011 at 1:58amGood luck to you’all, Delores. Thanks for the insight.
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