Campaign bosses hope Obama, McCain come here
Jody MurphyArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG - Campaign and party officials expect presidential candidates Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to make stops in West Virginia.
Larry Swann, state chairman for McCain 2008, said the Republican senator will make future visits to West Virginia, possibly Wood County. McCain was in Huntington Wednesday for a private meeting with the Marshall University football team.
Wood County is one of the few Republican strongholds in West Virginia.
"We realize how important Wood County is," Swann said. "When you look at the state it is critical to Sen. McCain's overall success. When you look at the state Wood County is one of the largest in terms of registered Republican voters."
Also, West Virginia has voted Republican, choosing George W. Bush, in each of the last two presidential elections. That's a trend GOPers would like to continue and Democrats would like to halt.
Tom Vogel, executive director of the West Virginia Democratic party, said he expects Obama to campaign throughout the state.
Obama did not make any campaign stops in West Virginia during the primary, all but conceding the state to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. Clinton was a decisive winner in the West Virginia primary netting 67 percent of the vote.
"I would think he is looking past that," Vogel said. "The fact (the state) was overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton was due to the fact they liked the Clintons, not that they disliked Sen. Obama."
The Obama campaign is interviewing for a state director, according to Vogel. That means the Democratic presidential hopeful's state campaign offices should be up and running within a week, Vogel said.
Vogel said he looks for the Clintons to stump for Obama in West Virginia.
Walt Auvil, Wood County Democratic Party chairman, expects the Obama campaign to take West Virginia seriously.
"The primary was treated as a foregone conclusion. If they want to have a chance in West Virginia to get this state back in the Democrat column they need to campaign here," Auvil said. "West Virginia is one of those states that doesn't have the mass media concentration. If you want to reach people you need to come out and meet them and let them interact with you."
Thats something McCain has already started and likely will continue, according to West Virginia Republican Party Chairman, Doug McKinney.
McKinney said he has been assured by the McCain campaign there will be more state stops by the candidate.
"His campaign director has assured me," McKinney said. "We don't know when and where they are going to be, but I would hope he would come to Wood County."
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WeeJay
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08-11-08 11:06 AM
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Emily - I don't understand why you would call Obama arrogant for not selecting Hillary as his running mate. If he did put her on the ticket then I would not vote for him. I certainly do not want to put any Clinton back in the White House for any reason. Do you seriously want to give Mr. Clinton access to the world stage again in any regard? Look at all of his screw ups and embarassing statements during Hillary's primary campaign. I am planning on voting for Obama, but not if he puts Hillary on the ticket with him. And I'm a registered Republican!!!
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EmilyL
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08-08-08 12:24 AM
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I hope Obama comes here, too. But, someone had better enlighten him. The race is still his to lose, particularly if he's so arrogant not to put Hillary on the ticket. But, if he's listening to Michelle, and he is actually that arrogant, my vote goes to the Libertarian party.
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WVCommissioner
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08-07-08 8:59 PM
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Obama visited WV in the primary. He flew into the Mid Ohio Valley Airport, greeted 100 or so at the airport, then stayed in Mineral Wells, before speaking in Ohio.
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