WV-GOV: Manchin to decide by summer

[Nichlemn]

It's also not completely implausible that Manchin could lead the WV legislative Democrats back into majorities (though the House got pretty heavily Republican in 2014).

[Nichlemn]

It's also not completely implausible that Manchin could lead the WV legislative Democrats back into majorities (though the House got pretty heavily Republican in 2014).

The same way that Governor Steve Beshear took back the Kentucky Senate for Democrats?  Or how Gov. Jay Nixon took back the Missouri legislature? 

Face it, West Virginia is gone.  He may be able to hold back the tide a little by keeping the governor's mansion in Democratic hands, but after he leaves office, watch the WV GOP consolidate its gains at every level in the state. 

Democrats managed to regain the MS state senate in 2007 before losing it again (probably for good this time). I don't think it's implausible WV Dems could get one last hurrah before partisan gravity sinks them for good.

[Nichlemn]

Democrats need every Senate seat we can get, even a horrible right-winger like Joe Manchin. Manchin's only use is as a vote for Dem control of the Senate.

He would be useless as governor. Who cares about who the governor of West Virginia is? It's an insignificant state and it clearly wants Republicans to hold any office that isn't held by Joe Manchin.

I'm gotta make a bold prediction, he's gonna get Blanche Lincolned in 2018 if he tries to run for re-election in that senate seat.

It's only two years since he won with over 60% of the vote, and Obama will be out of office then. I think he's the favourite, although he'll very likely to sweat a real race.