CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former state Adjutant General Allen Tackett says the first quarter fundraising results for Natalie Tennant, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, send a message.
“Her fundraising tells you that she’s a viable candidate, that she’s going to win this election,” said Ret. Maj. Gen. Allen Tackett, campaign manager for Tennant’s U.S. Senate campaign, on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
According to financial reports, Secretary of State Tennant raised $794,000 in the first three months of the year compared with the more than $817,000 Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) raised.
In total, Capito still has a significant monetary advantage over Tennant with $4.2 million in the bank compared with Tennant’s more than $1 million.
Both Capito and Tennant are considered the frontrunners for the seat U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) currently holds. After five terms, Rockefeller is not seeking reelection this year.
Tackett said Rockefeller is supporting Tennant. “Senator Rockefeller and (U.S.) Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) both are backing Natalie’s campaign and, I’m telling you, this race is closer than people think and Natalie Tennant’s going to win this race,” he said.
A Republican has not been elected in a U.S. Senate race in West Virginia since 1956.
The U.S. Senate nominees will be chosen during West Virginia’s primary election on May 13. The 2014 General Election is Nov. 4.