Mr. Hot vs. Mr. Cold: Seeds of Raese/Manchin Senate Race Planted in 1996 Governor's Contest
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
Fifteen years ago no one would imagine that even a well-funded,
well-known Republican candidate like John Raese would have a
chance against an incumbent Democratic Governor that had
been in statewide office as long as Joe Manchin. In 1995,
West Virginia was seen as the one old-line Democratic state
that hadn't changed--and wasn't likely to become friendly to
Republican candidates anytime soon.
But then the Great Divide of 1996 occurred, and ironically, Raese and Manchin were both involved in that key year, though in much different capacities. Manchin was Democratic lawmaker from Marion County who was trying to break into the big leagues by running for Governor. John Raese was a former GOP Chairman who stayed out of the '96 race as a candidate but who came out early for former Governor Cecil H. Underwood in the Republican primary.
"Underwood needed a key endorsement at about that time," recounted Jack Ellis, a Putnam County political consultant and former talk radio analyst. "The former Governor hadn't been in office for 40 years, and he was running against two well-funded, younger men in David McKinley and former astronaut Jon McBride. There's little question that Raese's backing as a former party chairman meant a lot to Underwood in the early going."
As it worked out, Underwood won a convincing victory in the GOP Primary, while Manchin lost a bruising battle in the Democratic Primary against former Kanahwa County State Senator Charlotte Pritt. The charismatic Pritt represented the more traditional, labor-oriented Democratic rank and file, and her victory over Manchin set him back a full eight years from his goal of being Governor.
However, many of Manchin's close supporters pursued what some
remember as a scorched earth policy against Pritt for beating
their man. A "Democrats for Underwood" organization popped up
soon after Manchin's loss, dividing the Democratic Party so deeply
that Cecil Underwood cruised to victory in an otherwise Democratic
year nationally during Bill Clinton's successful re-election bid.
"There didn't seem to be a whole lot of party loyalty among the Manchin Democrats after they lost the primary," said Ellis. "But that's politics. There were a lot hurt feelings on both sides, and frankly, I'm not sure some of those feelings have ever dried up, even all these years later. A lot of Democrats would have liked to have seen Charlotte Pritt have her chance at being Governor, so they blame Manchin's people for denying her that."
Despite the factions in the Democratic Party, it still has a decided edge in registration statewide, despite recent Republican gains. But ever since 1996, more Democrats have seemed willing to consider the options offered by the State and National GOP.
For example, in addition to Underwood's victory in 1996, the Party of Lincoln has also seen two victories for George W. Bush in West Virginia, including a key win here in 2000 that put Bush over the top nationally. Also, Shelley Moore Capito came in with George W. Bush and has remained for five straight terms against challenging opponents.
But perhaps the victory with the most impact has been the election of Brent Benjamin to the State Supreme Court for a full twelve year term. Benjamin, a Charleston attorney and GOP party activist, became the first Republican member of the State Supreme Court in decades.
"The Benjamin campaign was another turning point in what I call the maturing of the modern WV Republican Party," Ellis said, "Because Benjamin was an acceptable alternative, promoted well by the State GOP, a majority of the people said, "OK, we'll give him a try." Benjamin's an amiable sort--you know, gabby--and people warmed up to him. Again, he met the threshold of an acceptable alternative to the incumbent."
Ellis says that this is what John Raese needs to do in
the current race for U.S. Senate.
"You know, I don't know where this groupthink among the reporters is coming from that Joe Manchin is all that popular," said Ellis. "I'm not seeing it in the people I talk with every day. Some like Joe, sure, but many are concerned with his relationship to Obama, especially on cap and trade and Obamacare. John Raese will get far if he is increasingly seen as a reasonable alternative, like Benjamin did. Manchin has been out there in all of our faces for five years, but you ask someone what he's accomplished, and you get a fair amount of blank stares."
But who will win on November 2nd between these two political heavyweights?
"Well, a lot of people have liked Joe's brand of charm over the years," said Ellis. "He's smooth. But this may not be the year for smooth. So it's sort of like Mr. Cold versus Mr. Hot this year, you know? People are concerned, sometimes angry, and John Raese's fire could be what they will identify most with this year. He certainly agrees with the majority of the state on Washington D.C. and the Obama Administration, that's for sure. Either way you cut it, this race is going to be a barnburner."