Paid for by Lewis For Attorney General
McGraw Will Be Vulnerable in 2008
By Mike Myer
December 29, 2007
Don’t count Darrell McGraw out until he’s cleaning out his desk — but it is entirely possible that he may be doing so by
this time next year.
The controversial attorney general faces stiff opposition in next year’s elections. It may start in the Democratic Party
primary. I’ve heard rumors that some Democrats are attempting to find a good candidate to run against McGraw in the
primary. One name mentioned has been Carte Goodwin, general counsel in Gov. Joe Manchin’s administration.
But even if McGraw makes it past the primary, he’ll face a fight. Hiram Lewis, the Morgantown Republican who nearly
knocked off McGraw in 2004, is running again for attorney general.
Quite a few people who don’t like the way McGraw has handled the attorney general’s office — and, again, that includes
both Democrats and Republicans — are kicking themselves for not doing more to defeat him the last time around.
There was no lack of desire to beat McGraw in 2004 but, for some reason, it didn’t translate to enough active work on
behalf of Lewis to unseat McGraw.
The state Supreme Court race in 2004, in which McGraw’s brother, Warren, was thumped, seemed to have generated
the most energy. Why was that?
One reason, of course, was that Warren McGraw clearly was “beatable” in 2004. Remember Tony Arbaugh?
But another factor may have been the McGraw political machine’s reputation. Some West Virginians may have decided
that biting off two McGraws in one election was too much to chew.
We were wrong, as Lewis’ showing that year demonstrated. When final election returns were in, Lewis had come within
1 percent of defeating McGraw. Final vote totals showed McGraw with 359,491 votes and Lewis with 353,545.
The Lewis-McGraw duel turned into a North-South battle, not unexpectedly. The McGraw machine always has had its
strength primarily in southern West Virginia, with a good dose of support in other counties where organized labor is
strong.
In the 26 northern counties — draw a line starting in Wood County and take it straight east — Lewis trounced McGraw.
In those counties, Lewis garnered 178,201 votes to McGraw’s 138,658.
Here in the Northern Panhandle, McGraw had an edge, at 33,996 votes to Lewis’ 32,735. Lewis won in Ohio County by
a 10,201-9,089 margin and in Tyler County, by 2,262-1,755. Lewis cleaned up in the Eastern Panhandle; Berkeley
County went for him by a 20,123-12,027 margin. He also did quite well in Wood County, winning by 22,015-15,123.
The message in all of that is that McGraw could have been defeated in 2004 — and is vulnerable in 2008.
Will it happen? It wouldn’t surprise me at all, for three reasons: First, West Virginians dissatisfied with McGraw have
had no reason to change their minds during the past four years. If anything, McGraw has continued to offend them. His
opponents, angry at themselves for not trying harder in 2004, will do more against him this time.
Second, it seems likely that McGraw will face a strong challenger in the primary. Even if he wins there — and there is no
guarantee that he will — he’ll have to spend money that he otherwise could have saved for the general election
campaign.
Third, organized labor may be so preoccupied with the state Supreme Court race — in which Larry Starcher will face a
tough campaign, if he runs — that they won’t give McGraw as much help as they might have otherwise.
Make no mistake: 2008 could be the year when the McGraw machine suffers its final breakdown.
By Mike Myer
December 29, 2007
Don’t count Darrell McGraw out until he’s cleaning out his desk — but it is entirely possible that he may be doing so by
this time next year.
The controversial attorney general faces stiff opposition in next year’s elections. It may start in the Democratic Party
primary. I’ve heard rumors that some Democrats are attempting to find a good candidate to run against McGraw in the
primary. One name mentioned has been Carte Goodwin, general counsel in Gov. Joe Manchin’s administration.
But even if McGraw makes it past the primary, he’ll face a fight. Hiram Lewis, the Morgantown Republican who nearly
knocked off McGraw in 2004, is running again for attorney general.
Quite a few people who don’t like the way McGraw has handled the attorney general’s office — and, again, that includes
both Democrats and Republicans — are kicking themselves for not doing more to defeat him the last time around.
There was no lack of desire to beat McGraw in 2004 but, for some reason, it didn’t translate to enough active work on
behalf of Lewis to unseat McGraw.
The state Supreme Court race in 2004, in which McGraw’s brother, Warren, was thumped, seemed to have generated
the most energy. Why was that?
One reason, of course, was that Warren McGraw clearly was “beatable” in 2004. Remember Tony Arbaugh?
But another factor may have been the McGraw political machine’s reputation. Some West Virginians may have decided
that biting off two McGraws in one election was too much to chew.
We were wrong, as Lewis’ showing that year demonstrated. When final election returns were in, Lewis had come within
1 percent of defeating McGraw. Final vote totals showed McGraw with 359,491 votes and Lewis with 353,545.
The Lewis-McGraw duel turned into a North-South battle, not unexpectedly. The McGraw machine always has had its
strength primarily in southern West Virginia, with a good dose of support in other counties where organized labor is
strong.
In the 26 northern counties — draw a line starting in Wood County and take it straight east — Lewis trounced McGraw.
In those counties, Lewis garnered 178,201 votes to McGraw’s 138,658.
Here in the Northern Panhandle, McGraw had an edge, at 33,996 votes to Lewis’ 32,735. Lewis won in Ohio County by
a 10,201-9,089 margin and in Tyler County, by 2,262-1,755. Lewis cleaned up in the Eastern Panhandle; Berkeley
County went for him by a 20,123-12,027 margin. He also did quite well in Wood County, winning by 22,015-15,123.
The message in all of that is that McGraw could have been defeated in 2004 — and is vulnerable in 2008.
Will it happen? It wouldn’t surprise me at all, for three reasons: First, West Virginians dissatisfied with McGraw have
had no reason to change their minds during the past four years. If anything, McGraw has continued to offend them. His
opponents, angry at themselves for not trying harder in 2004, will do more against him this time.
Second, it seems likely that McGraw will face a strong challenger in the primary. Even if he wins there — and there is no
guarantee that he will — he’ll have to spend money that he otherwise could have saved for the general election
campaign.
Third, organized labor may be so preoccupied with the state Supreme Court race — in which Larry Starcher will face a
tough campaign, if he runs — that they won’t give McGraw as much help as they might have otherwise.
Make no mistake: 2008 could be the year when the McGraw machine suffers its final breakdown.
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