Joe Manchin III (D-WV) has been eyeing the United States Senate for awhile. The death of the longest serving Senator in United States history and one of West Virginia’s representatives, Robert C. Byrd, has left a seat vacant with a contest taking place.

The special election to fill the vacated seat will be held in November, and the two top contenders are Governor Joe Manchin, and 2nd Congressional District Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Manchin is nearing the end of his second term as governor of the Mountain State, and Capito has held her Congressional seat comfortably since 2001. (Capito is the daughter of the controversial Arch Moore of West Virginia.)

Rasmussen Reports poling (not my favorite by any means) has reported that Manchin has a solid 14% lead going into the early weeks of July.

It is pertinent and relevant to mention that this matchup is still hypothetical and is waiting a stamp of approval from the Attorney General.

A special Senate election this November to replace the late Robert Byrd is still awaiting the green light from West Virginia’s attorney general, but popular Democratic Governor Joe Manchin is the early leader in hypothetical matchups with two of his possible Republican opponents.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in West Virginia, taken Thursday night, shows Manchin with 53% support, while Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito earns 39% of the vote. Three percent (3%) prefer another candidate in the race, and five percent (5%) are undecided.
If former West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland is his GOP rival, Manchin captures 65% voter support. Ireland picks up 26%. Three percent (3%) again like some other candidate, while six percent (6%) are undecided.

Source: Rasmussen Reports

Robert C. Byrd was a legend in West Virginia. His record was marred in his earlier life with his ties to the KKK, but has since redeemed himself, freed from those shackled that once stained his public life and reputation. The filling of his seat is going to be controversial and historic. Byrd has large shoes to fill and the person seated in his place will no doubt have big hills to climb.

Given his popularity still among the state and if numbers remain the same, Manchin should have no problem defeating a GOP contender for the seat in November.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D) said Friday that he will almost definitely run for the open Senate seat in West Virginia this year, a move that should provide a measure of relief for Democrats concerned about another battleground this year.

But are Republicans ready to throw in the towel in a race that isn’t even official yet?

Manchin said on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown Friday morning that it is "highly likely" that he will run for the seat held by the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.). He even broached the process for replacing himself as governor – a sure sign that the deal is as good as sealed.

"I want to serve my state to the highest possible position I can," Manchin said. "(There are) a lot of important things not just for my state, but for this nation. I look forward to having the opportunity to serve."

Source: Washington Post