Longtime Incumbent Alan Mollohan Lost

[pkz]

CHARLESTON -- The end of an era came quickly.
Three hours after polls closed on May 11, 28-year incumbent Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va., conceded to challenger Michael Oliverio in the democratic primary in West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.

“Our polls showed us ahead, but we were shocked by the margin,” Oliverio said.

Oliverio bested his opponent with 57 percent of the vote in the 20-county district, according to unofficial numbers from the West Virginia Secretary of State's office.

Mollohan ran the closed campaign of an incumbent in a year of high anti-incumbent sentiment.

He also may have been hurt by lingering doubts about the outcome of a federal ethics investigation, even though his Congressional office announced months ago that the Department of Justice terminated its investigation without charge.

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=79668

[AndyA]

1. A preview of things to come if Democrats don't get it together and start controlling the message.

Dems continue to allow the minority party to pick the issues, control the message, and reap the rewards.

Where are the Democrats hanging the lousy economy on the GOP?

Where are the Democrats talking about how lax Bush/GOP policies contributed to the financial disaster, the Gulf oil disaster, the mining disasters, etc.?

Where are the Democrats calling out conservatives for their lies about high taxes? With taxes lower now than any year since 1950, I'd think every single Dem should be wherever they can get media coverage talking about this. Facts matter, and the facts prove the GOP/convservatives/tea baggers to be LIARS.

Yet we hear...not quite crickets, but close.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. I hope Michael Oliverio can beat the republican this fall.

Another Shelly clone and this state is in big twouble.

The GOPers "targeted" Alan Mollohan a long time ago. Any way you look at this, it sucks.

[ThomWV]

3. He will, but in truth Oliverio is just Republican-lite

[MountainLaurel]

4. From one DINO to another n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

5. He and King Joey are nerds of a feather.

Nobody but the "Friends Of Coal" has the cash to cash in.

This would probably be a "Right To Work State" if there were any jobs left.

Even a DINO is better than My Congress lady.

:bounce:

"O' Gloom despair and agony on me!"

[MadAnne]

6. I think Oliverio is a lot more conservative

than Shelley Moore.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Oh Gawd!

I am sick now! :puke: