Jon,
So John Raese now wants to run for the U.S. Senate seat? I
had to double-check the article to see if I remember who he was. I did.
He is probably one of the wealthiest men in West Virginia and all but
owns Morgantown, W.Va. – the only city in West Virginia that is
growing. He owns Greer Industries, The Dominion Post, and West Virginia
Radio, which owns several radio stations across the state including
MetroNews, which is a statewide radio news feed that syndicates the
MetroNews Statewide Talkline, a moderate to conservative talk radio
program.
Raese has a primary opponent in the race, but he is not the first
choice to run against Byrd. His problem is going to be running against
what Byrd has “done” for West Virginia and there is no way around it in
the state.
For instance, you drive in my hometown of Beckley, W.Va., eventually
you have to go to Robert C. Byrd Drive to get to some parts of town.
There is also the Robert C. Byrd Courthouse. Let’s not forget Robert C.
Byrd High School in Clarksburg, W.Va. or the Robert C. Byrd Corridor on
U.S. 19 connecting Summersville to Interstate 79 in Sutton. Everywhere
you go, this man and his legend, good or bad, surround you.
Many people in West Virginia know about his KKK connections, but they
look past it because of the pork that he brings to West Virginia. It?s
going to be a hard sale to the voters of West Virginia, but there is
that chance. They would’ve had a better chance with someone more
popular such as former WVU Football Coach Don Nehlen, who was mentioned
as a candidate after Rep. Shelley Moore Capito wisely backed out of the
race.
