The results of a voter opinion poll from Mark Blankenship Enterprises show Third District Congressman Nick Rahall would have a lot of support if he decides to run for the U.S. Senate next year.
“It’s early at this stage in the game, but I would say that, in a Democratic primary field with multiple candidates, there’s Nick Rahall and then there’s everybody else,” Pollster Mark Blankenship said.
No Democrat candidate, including Congressman Rahall, has yet announced plans to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014.
However, when questioned in a recent telephone survey, 37% of Democrat primary voters said they would vote for Congressman Rahall in a hypothetical race against Supreme Court Justice Robin Davis at 16%, former U.S. Senator Carte Goodwin at 6% and Attorney Ralph Baxter at 2%.
Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, is running for the U.S. Senate. She announced her campaign plans before longtime U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller said, in January, he would not be running for reelection.
Blankenship says Congresswoman Capito has statewide support.
“She has this uncanny ability to appeal to voters in the First Congressional District and the Third Congressional District,” Blankenship said on Monday’s MetroNews Talkline.
In a possible head to head U.S. Senate race between Capito and Rahall, the survey shows 55% of voters would support Congresswoman Capito, while 37% would back Congressman Rahall. About 9% are undecided.
The survey says, overall, Congresswoman Capito has a 64% job approval rating. About 70% of West Virginia voters approve of the job U.S. Senator Joe Manchin is doing. The MBE numbers show Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has a 69% job approval rating.
In contrast, President Barack Obama’s job approval rating in West Virginia is at 43%.
About 56% of those questioned said U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin should vote against President Obama’s gun control proposals.
Blankenship says they found gun owners in more than three out of every five homes in West Virginia.
“There’s a huge gun ownership in the state of West Virginia and it’s unsurprising to me that a majority of those folks, or an overwhelmingly of those folks, would oppose any kind of new gun control measures,” he said.
On energy, 55% said they oppose President Obama’s proposals to increase taxes on energy companies based in the United States.
Mark Blankenship Enterprise conducted the survey of 600 West Virginians for Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.
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Comments
al
I'd like to know how Capito has a 64% job approval rating when she has done NOTHING since going to Washington except for having Moore in her name. For some stupid reason, this state would vote for anyone named Moore. They would most likely vote for Arch again if he would run. Very strange!
February 11, 2013 at 12:40 pm | Report comment
Geno
Look how long you idiots voted for Welfare Bob Byrd, Rock-A-Failure and Rahall
February 12, 2013 at 10:07 am | Report comment
al
You, dear sir, are the idiot if you fine fault with Bob Byrd. He is the grearest thing to ever happen to WV. And I wouldn't exactly call Rockefeller a failure. You are the idiot.
February 12, 2013 at 6:20 pm | Report comment
ShinnstonGuy
This survey tells me the average MetroNews reader doesn't represent the views of the state when it comes to Tomblin or Manchin. The commenters on here make them about to be the devil and the devil's son. It's rather interesting from a survey point of view.
February 11, 2013 at 5:31 pm | Report comment
al
That is because it is a Republican outfit controlled by Republicans. I wouldn't put much faith in anything Metro News puts out politically.
February 12, 2013 at 6:21 pm | Report comment
JT
Why did the poll not register a Capito vs McKinley primary?
February 11, 2013 at 9:32 pm | Report comment
Jim
TO: "AL"- Your statement, "For some stupid reason, this state would vote for anyone named Moore. They would most likely vote for Arch again if he would run. Very strange!" This statement is amusing and I'm not going to argue with you. However, the same could be said of "Big Daddy", "I'm West Virginia's billion dollar industry", Bob Byrd. He singlehandedly turned this state into an entitlement state! There has to be something fundamentally wrong with someone who wants his name on every highway, federal bldg., school, bridge, two-lane road, senior center and outhouse in WV. It is however, easy to give away other people's (taxpayer) money and look like a hero. This generation and the next will be paying back the debt because of megalomaniac.
February 11, 2013 at 9:38 pm | Report comment
al
You sir, are full of crap!
February 12, 2013 at 6:22 pm | Report comment
ShadyGrove
Capito has done what a majority of West Virginians want her to do, support the values of West Virginia. The amazing part is that Joe has a 70% approval rating since he is working hard to undermine West Virginian's second amendment rights.
February 12, 2013 at 5:24 am | Report comment
al
You also are full of crap fed to you by the Republicans, and being the stupid lot that you are, buy everything they tell you. Grow a brain, and think for yourself.
February 12, 2013 at 6:24 pm | Report comment
Jim G.
Dear al:
What has Rahal done in 36 years in congress? I can't think of a thing other than get his name affixed to some taxpayer paid for projects. The only reason he is in congress is because Ken Hechler had a brain fart in 1976 and though he could beat Jay in the Democratic primary for governor. Ken almost won his seat back in write in campaign that fall against Rahal. Rahal has spent his entire career on the back benches in Congress. You would be hard pressed to find a congressman who has served 36 years with a less stellar career.
February 12, 2013 at 6:19 am | Report comment
al
And that proves Shelly did anything?
February 12, 2013 at 6:25 pm | Report comment
al
I'll bet my last dollar that everyone of you get your news from FOX news also.
February 12, 2013 at 6:26 pm | Report comment