Barely a week has passed since Sen. Robert Byrd died, but unions (and businesses) in West Virginia are already trying to get Gov. Joe Manchin to appoint himself as Byrd’s replacement.
“We just strongly believe that he’s the right person and we would certainly encourage him to reconsider that decision and in fact appoint himself,” said Larry Matheney, the secretary and treasurer of the West Virginia AFL-CIO.
[snip]
Matheney said the executive board of the West Virginia AFL-CIO passed a resolution last Tuesday asking Manchin to appoint himself “as soon as possible.” But he said the union has kept the resolution quiet until now out of respect for Byrd, and plans to go to the governor’s office Tuesday morning to deliver the resolution in person and try to change the governors’ mind about appointing himself.
Previously, Manchin has stated he would not appoint himself. However, with unions and the WV Chamber of Commerce pushing him, he may just change his mind.
Democrats know that the anti-Dem mood across the country would likely affect who replaces Byrd in a state that voted for GOP-candidate John McCain in 2008 and they see Manchin as the only person who can keep Byrd’s seat blue.
As the saying goes, the body ain’t cold yet.
Read the rest here.
