Apparently, Robert Byrd is feeling the heat.
Today, WV Blogger and Charleston Daily Mail columnist Don Surber noted that the Republican National Senatorial Committee has determined that the usually safe Byrd seat is in play, and launched a statewide commercial (backup here)aimed at softening Byrd’s support in anticipation of fielding a viable Republican candidate in 2006.
Byrd’s expected opposition, Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, was recently trailing Byrd by only 46-43 in a statewide poll. While other polls gave Byrd a much more comfortable lead, as a WV native and lifelong resident, I can tell you, this is a big deal.
Recently, Sen. Byrd has moved to reposition himself as more moderate, signaling tepid support and singing the praises for Bush’s SCOTUS nominee, John Roberts, joining the so-called “Gang of 14,” and stepping up his fundriasing activites (with a little help from some friends, including freshman Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill)).
As the state has gone GOP in the last two Presidential elections, this is not surprising. However, the most telling statement about Byrd’s vulnerability might be this latest action by some of Sen. Byrd’s ‘friends’:
The use of Web sites to promote political candidates, or to engage in jokes, touched West Virginia politics in the past few days.
Late last week, a Web site called www.capito2006.com began instantly switching Internet visitors to the campaign site of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., at www.byrd2006.com.
Capito spokesman R.C. Hammond said, “Certainly Senator Byrd would not want to mislead West Virginians into thinking Shelley Moore Capito has something to do with his 2006 re-election and will do everything in his power to return www.capito2006.com to its proper home on the Internet.”
A quick search on the Internet revealed that the site was reserved back in November 2004 by neither Byrd nor Capito.
Stephen Skinner, a lawyer with Nichols and Skinner LLC, with offices in Charles Town and on Capitol Hill, bought the domain name, then transferred it to Stanton Denman.
Tom Gavin, a spokesman for Byrd, said Byrd’s staff and campaign workers had nothing to do with the Web site.
Friends of Robert C. Byrd quickly blocked capito2006.com from switching over to byrd2006.com, posting a statement: “You have been redirected to this page in error. Someone unknown and unaffiliated with Friends of Robert C. Byrd had been redirecting Web traffic.”
Things are heating up, and it should be a good race to keep your eye on.
Cross posted at Red State.
DougJ
Byrd, along with Kennedy, is the last of the old school liberals. To paraphrase the president, we’re goint to smoke ‘em out, get ‘em on the run, and catch ‘em.
Another Jeff
What the hell was with that quote in the article you linked where he praised Roberts as a nominee?
“The JUNGLES of America’s inner-cities”?!?!?!?!
How in the hell has that not gotten more attention? An ex-Klansman (albeit one who has frequently condemned his past) refers to American’s inner-cities as “jungles” and it’s not a big deal? Sheesh.
Stormy70
He’s a Democrat, which means racist comments are for the greater good.
Steve
Oh no, Axl Rose must resign immediately.
Nancy
“WV Senate Race Heats Up- Complete With Dirty Tricks”
“Apparently, Robert Byrd is feeling the heat.”
“Byrd’s vulnerability might be this latest action by some of Sen. Byrd’s ‘friends'”
Your quotes above might lead someone to think Byrd or his campaign had something to do with this John.
kinda mis-leading
Wabi Sabi
For your information, Byrd proposed an amendment that would have significantly increased spending on the body armor section of the bill instead of spending it on:
— $2 million for 40 garbage trucks, at $50,000 each;
— $20 million for a 4-week business course at $10,000 per student; and,
— $900 million to import petroleum products to Iraq, a country with the the second largest oil reserves in the world.
As for flag burning, the only time I ever see the flag desecrated is on Republican television ads. If it’s so objectionable, then why do they keep broadcasting it?
Harry 3 Lime
Defeat Byrd.
Close down more libraries.
Ban Chateau Haut Brion ’75
Long live the Republican party.
America, where anyone can grow up to be a draft dodger.
Frankie
I did not know that John Cole was a WV native, let alone resident.
I heard Moore Capito today when she was asked about the ads. She began to speak quicker with lots of oral pauses. Then said she did not hear about them… then said just maybe a headline… it was 11:00 AM…
John Dillinger
Ask yourself: if Byrd is so vulnerable, why hasn’t Caputo committed to the race yet? Her top Hill aide left earlier this year because of that, and things haven’t changed.
Frankie
She is committed, the RNC is not blowing money for nothing.