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ELECTIONS
Rockefeller targets McCain at Labor Day rally
Democratic congressional candidate from West Virginia's second district Anne Barth, left, and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, center, wait to speak at the United Mine Workers of America Labor Day celebration in Racine, W.Va. Saturday, Sept. 1, 2008.
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RACINE, W.Va.-- Harsh words from U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller about Republican colleague John McCain helped mark the traditional start of West Virginia's fall election season Monday.
The Democrat invoked the GOP presidential nominee's votes on veterans benefits, children's health insurance and clean coal technology at the 70th annual Boone County rally sponsored by the United Mine Workers Union.
"You have to understand John McCain and how bad he would be for West Virginia," Rockefeller said. "He's a terrible person to have as president."
To repeated applause, Rockefeller also cited McCain's oft-reported temper while urging the Labor Day crowd to help defeat him in November.
"He's a bully. He treats people terribly," Rockefeller said.
A McCain spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gov. Joe Manchin kicked off the afternoon's political speeches at John Slack Memorial Park Plaza in Racine. He told the crowd he always finds himself bragging about the state and its work force while traveling the country and abroad for economic development missions.
Manchin, seeking a second term, cited his address last week to the Democratic National Convention, where he boasted that West Virginians "have a Ph.D. in life."
"We've gotten our skills working the hard jobs," the governor said Monday. "We can shake your hand and read you like a book... Don't ever take a back seat to anybody."
Also speaking were Democrats Natalie Tennant, the party's nominee for secretary of state, and Anne Barth, who is challenging Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito in the state's 2nd Congressional District.
"I am not going to Washington so I can represent corporations," Barth said, citing some of Capito's campaign donors. "This campaign is about putting the people of West Virginia first."
Capito has spoken at previous Racine rallies but is in Minnesota for the Republican National Convention, her campaign spokesman said. A trio of Capito campaign volunteers were on hand to film Barth and several other Democrats during their speeches. They left immediately after she spoke.
The daylong celebration at Racine also included live music. But it did not include the presidential candidates. Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry addressed the 2004 crowd before losing the state to President Bush. This year, neither Democrat Barack Obama nor McCain are attending.
Monday's crowd included several Obama campaign volunteers, while others wore "U.M.W.A. for Obama" T-shirts and stickers. Sue Thorn came from Wheeling to talk up the presidential nominees to those attending.
"It's been a very good reception so far," said Thorn, 53. "These are people who aren't making $250,000 a year. They're tired of supporting the people at the top."
Thorn said she also met undecided voters Monday, and some who weren't for Obama but hesitant about saying why.
The latter group does not include Dallas Henderson, 67. The retired coal miner from Whitesville said he supports Obama and wants to see him carry the state.
"I'm hoping it goes Obama, unless they want to have eight more years of what we have had," Henderson said. "It's going to be a tough path, but I think we will prevail."
Bush took West Virginia in both 2000 and 2004, and most political analysts have painted it red on their projected electoral maps this year. Hillary Clinton beat Obama handily in the state's May primary, attracting more than two-and-a-half times as many votes. Her margin in Boone County was closer to six-to-one.
