When politicians are asked about competition, they usually say they welcome it because it makes for a better race and leads to more informed voters who can choose the best candidate. By necessity, political party leaders do not take sides publicly in primary election fights, again lauding the benefits of candidates having opposition even within their own party.
Truth be told, however, most candidates for public office relish the thought of being the only person in the race. As the old saying goes, “You run unopposed or you run scared.”
Republicans, as a result of recent successes, have three viable candidates for governor in 2016: State Sen. Bill Cole (R-Mercer), 1st District Congressman David McKinley and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. A three-way race for the nomination would have made for a fascinating primary election, but that was the last thing any of the three or Republican Party leaders wanted for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it would open up all three seats they currently hold.
Even if it were a two-way race the candidates would have beaten each other up in the news and in advertising campaigns, burning through campaign dollars that could be used in the general election.
For a while it appeared the trio would not be able to sort it out among themselves. Each really wants to be governor and none wanted to give in. However, Cole’s decision to declare rather than continue the behind-the-scenes maneuvering set events in motion.
McKinley, the senior man of the three, felt it was his turn, but it appears he did not want a primary challenge. Morrisey, the most right-leaning of the three, wanted to make sure the party’s nominee had strong conservative principals and he appears to be more comfortable with Cole than McKinley.
But that’s all back-channel chatter. The procedural triumph here for the GOP is that Morrisey, McKinley and Cole sorted it out themselves. True, the state’s Republican and Independent voters are denied a choice among viable candidates (unless another legitimate candidate gets in the race), but winning in November will be easier if there’s no contentious battle in May.
The Democratic Party, however, is setting up for a contested primary to determine its nominee. Senator Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) and Greenbrier owner Jim Justice are both in, and Kessler says he’s not cowering because of Justice’s big bank account.
“I intend to give people a choice, a real choice,” Kessler told me on Metronews “Talkline” Wednesday. “I think we’ll see a stark contrast between the candidates.”
Kessler believes his pathway to the nomination is a populist appeal to working people, labor unions and the left/left center of the political spectrum, ground that has not been nearly as politically fertile as it once was because of the state’s rightward tilt.
Given the nature of politics today, hotly contested primaries can turn into nasty, expensive propositions that wound the eventual winner and split the party. The 2016 election is still a ways off and the candidate line-up may well change before then. So far the Republicans have maneuvered their way through a potentially dangerous political minefield in the governor’s race. The Democrats have not, but their Primary will be far more interesting to watch and insightful for the voters.