Tomblin, Maloney win in West Virginia

The unrest on the right that rattled GOP primaries in 2010 continued to simmer in West Virginia Saturday.

Wealthy drilling executive Bill Maloney capsized establishment favorite Betty Ireland for the Republican nomination, the most substantial signal to date that the tea party movement continues to resonate six months after its historical midterm victories.

With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Maloney was leading Ireland 45 percent to 31 percent.

Maloney, who vastly outspent Ireland on television ads and criticized her for wasteful spending while she was Secretary of State, began the race with virtually no name identification. But his victory is a triumph of modern media politics and the strength of the right-tilting tea party tide.

Maloney will go on to face Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who comfortably captured the Democratic nomination for governor Saturday, easily outpacing five challengers by double-digits and solidifying himself as the frontunner heading into the fall's general election.

Following the Associated Press' call of the race, Tomblin promised an exhaustive general election effort and said, "we will win."   Tomblin had racked up 41 percent with 93 percent of precincts reporting, adding up to 17 point margin of victory.

Tomblin, who enjoyed the benefits of incumbency, the largest warchest and splintered opposition, was attacked by House Speaker Rick Thompson and State Treasurer John Perdue on ethical grounds and for being "anti-worker." But he stayed positive throughout and stayed trained on a message of lower taxes, job creation and family values.

Tomblin's easy victory may be seen as an affirmation of a continuation of the era of Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the governorship in November to take the U.S. Senate seat of Robert Byrd.

On the other hand, the opposition to Tomblin was fragmented. The labor-friendly Thompson finished second, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant took third and Perdue placed fourth. Their vote totals combined bested Tomblin by more than 15,000 votes.

Along with Kentucky, West Virginia will be one of two highly targeted 2011 general election contests for the national parties.

While Democratic Governors Association chairman Martin O'Malley devoted his full statement to praising Tomblin, his counterparts took their first slice at Tomblin.

"Earl Ray Tomblin has been one of the most powerful politicians in the state for more than 15 years, but under his watch too many West Virginians continue to struggle to make ends meet. Meanwhile, critical issues like the Marcellus Shale and solving the state's debt crisis -- which threatens thousands of state workers -- have been ignored," said Republican Governors Association executive director Phil Cox.

The special general election will be held October 4. But Tomblin or Maloney will have to face the voters again in 2012, when they ask voters for a full four-year term.

Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0511/Tomblin_Maloney_win_in_West_Virginia.html

Fred Upton Frederica S. Wilson G. K. Butterfield Gabrielle Giffords