From The Hotline Latest Edition for Friday, May 9,2008

WEST VIRGINIA (5/13 PRIMARY)

Another Bump In The Road

Fri. May 9, 2008


This state of small towns "is home to" the gun-owning, churchgoing, financially struggling voters whom Hillary Clinton "is targeting." Clinton says Barack Obama alienated them with his remark before the PA primary last month "about 'bitter' dislocated workers in small towns 'clinging' to guns and religion." Dems outnumber GOPers 2 to 1, but Pres. Bush won here in '00 and '04. Charleston Mayor Danny Jones (R): "It was because of three things: guns, God and abortion." Local pols "say it will take more than a well-decorated storefront" for Obama to make headway. Wayne County Clerk Bob Pasley: "He's going to have to visit... Is he Islamic or is he not? I know he's tried to talk about it but he hasn't looked anybody in Wayne in the eye and told them."

Most Dems who succeed in WV "are politically conservative." Even Obama's supporters in the state "acknowledge" that WV "could prove to be a speed bump" for Obama. Rep. Nick Rahall (D): "It is an uphill struggle for Sen. Obama, that's for sure." Rahall was booed at a Wayne Dem pig roast after he endorsed Obama. For all of Clinton's advantages, she's picked up only a few major endorsements here. Another factor "could help" Obama: WV is allowing the estimated 156K indis to vote in the primary (Kiely, USA Today, 5/9).e