A reporter for Politico says the path to a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate will run right through West Virginia in 2014.
“My story looks at West Virginia as one of about a dozen states that’s going to be important,” James Hohmann said on Tuesday’s MetroNews Talkline.
“Republicans, they feel like they can’t screw up West Virginia or else. (Without it) They have no realistic shot of winning a majority.”
Right now, there are 55 Democrats in the U.S. Senate and 45 Republicans.
To flip the U.S. Senate, Hohmann says Republicans will have to pick up states like West Virginia, where Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney garnered the most votes in November; capitalize on Senate retirements; compete in states President Barack Obama won and make sure no distractions complicate their efforts.
Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller announced his plans to retire from the Senate.
The announcement came after Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, launched her 2014 Senate campaign.
At this point, no Democrat candidate has formally announced plans to run for the U.S. Senate nomination next Maysetting up a possible race against Capito in the 2014 General Election.
“Someone could still emerge who, even if it was a gadfly, would be able to get 25% (of the vote) in low turnout primary.” For the general election, Hohmann says a credible Democrat would likely have the support of national organizations.
“In the fall, you’ll see a lot of money pour into West Virginia if Democrats feel like they have a shot of holding the seat,” Hohmann said.
You can read Hohmann’s full story at www.politico.com/