Capito won't run for WV Senate seat

by Mike Memoli

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R), the GOP's best hope of challenging Gov. Joe Manchin (D) in the special Senate election in West Virginia this fall, has decided against running, citing her commitment to the House and the possibility of a legal challenge.

A late compromise Monday in the West Virginia legislature included a provision that would have allowed an official like Capito to run both in the Senate race and in another regularly-scheduled election. Capito said that despite her colleague's laudable effort to "level the playing field," there remain "legal and practical questions regarding a person's ability to run for two offices."

"There has been enough unnecessary chaos and controversy surrounding the vacancy in the U.S. Senate," she said in a statement. "My candidacy would create more uncertainty, invite a legal challenge, and misrepresent my priorities as a public servant. The outcome could ultimately place my re-election to the House of Representatives in jeopardy and would leave the final decision in the hands of state officials rather than the voters."

State and national Republicans widely viewed Capito as their best candidate in a race that emerged this month. With so many other high priority races this November, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is unlikely to place heavy emphasis on the race, especially since there is another regularly-schedule election in 2012.

But West Virginia Republicans still anticipate a candidate emerging to challenge the popular Manchin. State GOP chair Doug McKinney told the Swamp in a recent interview that another potential candidate had already prepared a television advertisement for a campaign.

The filing deadline for race is Friday, with a special primary scheduled for August 28.