WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fox News Politics Editor, former Daily Mail reporter and Wheeling native, Chris Stirewalt said he didn’t have to push too hard to get the network to consider the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in West Virginia for a nationally televised debate.
“This is a good race. It’s an early primary but it is a good race,” Stirewalt said during an appearance Friday on MetroNews “Talkline.” “It has all of the themes and all of the tension and all of the curly cues that are part of the national discussion this year. It has compelling individuals in it.”
Fox News announced Thursday the West Virginia debate would be the first of several the network plans for this election year. It will take place at the Metropolitan Theatre in Morgantown on May 1, a week before the election.
There are six candidates in the Republican Primary but only those at a certain level in a Fox News poll will be invited, Stirewalt said.
“They’re out in the field now and we’ll have the results of it next week. When the poll comes back anybody who is over 10 percent in that poll will be welcome to join,” Stirewalt said.
Other polling is believed to have a close race between Third District Congressman Evan Jenkins, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. West Virginia National Guard Maj. and business owner Tom Willis, former coal miner Bo Copley and U.S. Navy veteran Jack Newbrough are also in the race for the GOP nomination.
Stirewalt said the timing of the debate, just one week before the May 8 Primary vote, could prove key.
“I think they all reasonably believe that this can be the moment that breaks through. That this is the moment that changes this from a three-person race or a four-person race or whatever into a two-way race that they can win,” Stirewalt said.
Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will co-moderate the debate. It will go from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Information about possible attendance is expected to be released at a later date.
The winner May 8 will likely face U.S. Senator Joe Manchin in the fall election.