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Sarah Palin Steps Up For John Raese In West Virginia Senator's Race

Melissa Dempsey |
October 30, 2010 | 1:18 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Republican heavyweight Sarah Palin called on voters to keep West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin in his current job and instead elect Republican John Raese to serve the final two years of the late Sen. Robert Byrd's term.

Palin, speaking at an event for Raese in Charleston on Saturday, said Manchin, a Democrat, is a "good" governor but is not a fit for the Senate.

The race between Manchin and Raese has been an expensive and controversial one, to say the least. Campaign donations have been estimated at about $13 million dollars, and campaign ads have gotten national attention. A recent television ad by Raese's, for instance, has caused a national stir.

The advertisement itself wasn’t controversial, and actors just portrayed normal West Virgina citizens. The casting call sheet, however, asked actors to act like “hicks.” West Virginians are outraged and Manchin is using the ad to his advantage.

Republican businessman Raese clashes with Manchin on many major issues, and during a recent debate, made it clear that he will not be supportive of policies such as Obama’s new healthcare plan.

“I want to bring back the spirit of capitalism…to create the freedom of an individual,” he said while debating with Manchin.

Manchin is a popular politician in West Virginia, one who many would like to see in office again—but under different circumstances. Voters like Manchin and what he’s done while in office, but they don’t like what the Democratic party has done on a whole in the past few years and have been predicted to vote for Raese as a result of this.

Whoever wins in Tuesday's election would immediately start serving in the Senate.

Reach staff reporter Melissa Dempsey here.



 

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