Could Alan Mollohan Be The Next To Go?
Four days after Utah Republican Sen. Bob Bennett was shown the door by conservative delegates at the state party convention after 18 years of service, Alan Mollohan, the incumbent Democrat from West Virginia's 1st Congressional district, is facing perhaps his toughest re-election in nearly three decades in Congress.
Mollohan is squaring off today in the Democratic primary against state Sen. Mike Oliverio, an upstart who's put the incumbent on the defensive over his record in Washington. A recent television ad from Oliverio slammed Mollohan as "one of the most corrupt members of Congress." The state legislator has also skewered Mollohan for his vote in favor of health care reform and for initially supporting cap-and-trade.
And Mollohan has been criticized for his propensity as an Appropriations subcommittee chairman to steer millions of dollars in earmarks to the district. Once seen as a virtue in a congressman's re-election campaign, earmarks this year have become symbolic of overspending by Washington.
Oliverio's received the backing of the Ogden newspaper chain, with papers across the district in Wheeling, Weirton and Parkersburg. And he raised more than $320,000 through the third week of April, with more coming in as the primary drew closer.
Despite the challenge from his right, Mollohan is receiving help from the National Rifle Association, which is reaching out to voters in the district to highlight his 100 percent voting record and "A+" rating with the organization.
He's also responded with a TV ad, calling Oliverio "right wing" and tying him to the Tea Party and the state Republican Party.
State Sen. Jeff Kessler, whose district falls within the 1st district and who is running for governor in 2012, believes Mollohan will likely pull out a win today.
"He has a race on his hands, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't weather it," said Kessler, who did not endorse anyone in the primary. "This is the third race in a row he's been exposed to these kinds of attacks. I don't know that a different person singing the same tune is going to make a difference."
The Justice Department ended its four-year probe into Mollohan's personal finances earlier this year. The investigation did not affect his ability to win re-election in the last two cycles. Despite the negative press and help for his opponent from the national GOP in 2006, Mollohan still cruised to a 64 percent win, and he ran unopposed in 2008.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face one of a handful of well-funded Republicans vying for the GOP nomination, which has become nearly as contentious as the Democratic contest.
The national political landscape and the district's penchant for voting Republican at the presidential level would appear to put this seat in grave danger for Democrats, but the party dominates down-ballot races. Mollohan has held the district easily since 1982, and most of the state senators and delegates in the area are Democrats.
However, if Mollohan does pull off a victory, a low winning percentage could be a sign of a far more competitive general election campaign than he's used to in November.