West Virginia (5/24/06)

Jay Rockefeller is very popular, and that's putting it mildly. He is a moderate, which, in West Virginia, is a very good thing. There is speculation that he will retire, but, unless he does, this is still a pretty safe seat. The obvious favorite for the GOP nomination is West Virginia's lone GOP representative, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito. She passed on this year's race versus Robert Byrd, which could indicate that she is saving up for a run in 2008. If she doesn't enter the race, there really aren't any other viable candidates. If Rockefeller retires, Capito will definitely enter the race for the GOP and there will be a scramble for the Democratic nomination, with probable candidates being Governor Joe Manchin and longtime Congressman Alan B. Mollohan.

Potential Dem Candidates: Senator Jay Rockefeller (http://rockefeller.senate.gov)
Governor Joe Manchin (http://www.wvgov.org)
Congressman Alan B. Mollohan (http://house.gov/mollohan/)

Potential GOP Candidates: Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (http://capito.house.gov)

Current Rating: Safe Dem