West Virginia Governor
Polling Data
| Poll | Date | Sample | Manchin (D) | Weeks (R) | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPP (D) | 10/29 - 10/30 | 2128 LV | 69 | 27 | Manchin +42 |
| Rasmussen | 10/20 - 10/20 | 500 LV | 71 | 21 | Manchin +50 |
Demographics
Population (2007 est.): 1,812,035
Registered Voters: Dem 56.2% | Rep 29.4% | Other 14.4%
Occupation: Blue Collar 28.7% | White Collar 54.0% | Gray Collar 17.3%
Race: White 94.6% | Black 3.1% | Two+ races 0.8% | Hispanic 0.7%
Occupation: Blue Collar 28.7% | White Collar 54.0% | Gray Collar 17.3%
Race: White 94.6% | Black 3.1% | Two+ races 0.8% | Hispanic 0.7%
Previous Election Results
Governor
2004: Manchin 64, Warner 34
2000: Wise 50, Underwood 47
President
2004: Bush 56, Kerry 43
2000: Bush 52, Gore 46
1996: Clinton 52, Dole 37
Race Summary
Gov. Joe Manchin is heavily favored to retain his seat for a second term. Manchin enjoys high favorable ratings and is seen as a rising star in the Democratic party. He is currently chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, which helps elect Democratic governors around the country.
Manchin's GOP challenger is former state Sen. Russ Weeks, who was defeated for re-election in 2006. Before beginning his political career, Weeks served in the Navy for 20 years and later worked as a carpenter.