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On the campaign trail: Justice polling numbers explained, Cole says voters deserve debates

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Justice released his plans for increasing tourism in the Mountain State Tuesday on the heels of an endorsement from the industry’s political action committee while Republican gubernatorial nominee, state Senate President Bill Cole, criticized Justice for not yet agreeing to debate him.

Justice’s endorsement comes from the WV Hospitality & Travel Association Political Action Committee.

“We’ve never had a candidate for governor who understands how to grow the tourism industry better than Jim Justice,” Carol Fulks, the group’s executive director said in a release from Justice’s campaign. “Jim is one of us and knows exactly how we can expand tourism across West Virginia. What he did to rescue The Greenbrier, he can do for our state. No one can match Jim’s creativity and marketing ability; it’s exactly what we need in our next governor.”

Justice wants to create 16,000 new tourism-related jobs over the next four years, his campaign said.

Some of Justice’s proposals include more lodging opportunities at places like Tygart Lake and Cacapon State Park. An indoor waterpark in the Wheeling area and a Dollywood or Disney-type resort in southern West Virginia. Justice claims he can convince private investors to finance the projects.

Cole was critical of Justice during an appearance Tuesday on MetroNews “Talkline” claiming all he’s heard from the Justice campaign is “absolute silence.”

“I’m out there every single day working hard,” Cole said.

A Justice campaign-financed poll from Global Strategy Group released Monday has Justice with a 10-point lead (47-37) over Cole with 15 percent undecided. The margin is more impressive when you consider the negative ads run against Justice and the unpopularity of Hillary Clinton’s presidential run in West Virginia, GSG President Jefrey Polluck said Tuesday on “Talkline.”

“To be up by 10 in the face of Hillary losing (in WV) by mega double digits–that’s a pretty good place to start this campaign,” Pollock said. “People like him (Justice). People know him and people have seen him over the last number of weeks (with the flood) and that’s shown once again to voters across the state who Jim Justice is.”

When asked Tuesday if he was currently behind in the election Cole said it was “plausible.”

“But I have every intent of crossing the finish line first,” Cole said. “We’re going to get out there and work hard everyday and get in front of West Virginians all over this state and prove we have a plan.”

Although discussions are underway, there are currently no debates scheduled between the two. Cole has been asked to appear at two debates and has agreed to do so. He said Justice should do the same.

“The voters have it coming to them. There’s no other way that they’ll easily contrast the Republican and Democratic candidate,” he said.

Justice is in a strong position, Pollock said, with his favorable to unfavorable ratio being 2 to 1, according to the recent poll, while Cole’s is 1.2 to 1.

Global Strategy Group conducted 600 interviews last week for the poll released Monday. The poll did not focus on third party candidates like Charlotte Pritt of the Mountain Party. There will be another time to hear what voters think about them, Pollock said.

“It’s not that they’re not relevant it’s just that we know the numbers can be overstated but that’s for later in the campaign,” he said. “We still have a long way to go and we’re looking at the head-to-head.”





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