Manchin files for 2nd 4-year term

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) _ With no opponents filing from either party, an estimated $2.1 million war chest and a positive national profile, Gov. Joe Manchin was all smiles Tuesday as he submitted his candidacy paperwork for a second term.

"I have no personal agenda except to make West Virginia better," the 60-year-old Democrat told reporters afterward.

First Lady Gayle Manchin joined her husband for the announcement. So did many of the business and labor leaders whose groups helped form the wide-ranging coalition that propelled Manchin from the secretary of state's office to the governor's mansion in 2004.

Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, and House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, were among several lawmakers on hand.

During Manchin's tenure, the Mountain State has enjoyed strong revenues that have helped close gaps in ailing pension funds by more than $1.8 billion. Last year marked record low unemployment and the largest work force in at least the last half-century.

"I have a vision for West Virginia to go an awful lot farther," the governor said Tuesday.

Besides tackling debts, Manchin as governor has secured modest business and consumer tax cuts, privatized the state's oft-troubled workers' compensation system and linked his policies to a decline in home and auto insurance rates.

"Look at what positive things have happened in the last four years, and imagine what other positive things can happen in the next four," said Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey.

Manchin's response to West Virginia mining deaths, including the 2006 Sago disaster that killed a dozen miners, gave him a national audience. So too has his drive to include that industry's product in U.S. energy policy, by championing ways to "clean" coal's environmental footprint.

An uphill climb awaits any GOP standard bearer, State Chairman Doug McKinney conceded Tuesday.

"You're dealing with a guy with better than 70 percent approval rating, and the ability to raise tons of money," McKinney said. "Any candidate would have to campaign full-time, raise a couple of million dollars and travel to every county in the state. It's hard to get people to commit to that."

McKinney echoed the complaint from other Republicans that Manchin occasionally steals from their playbook on such issues as tax cuts.

"Every time we've announced a thing, the governor has kind of pushed it aside and then six or so months later he calls a special session on that very subject," McKinney said. "We think the governor has been on the right track, but we think he's been taking baby steps on issues like taxes and the economy when he should be taking giant steps."

Three other people have filed pre-candidacy papers that allow them to explore their fund-raising capabilities, including Republican Joseph Oliverio, a Clarksburg painting contractor. The candidate filing period ends at midnight Saturday, and those running for governor must pay a $1,500 fee.

Oliverio ran for governor in 2000 and in 2004, with the GOP primary ending each bid. He endured several brushes with the law during that time, including a 2003 DUI arrest, both in West Virginia and Florida where he had relocated.

The West Virginia GOP distanced itself from Oliverio at one point during the 2004 race, citing such statements as his calling coalfield residents "dumb." He did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

"Joey's just one of those guys that just goes his own way," McKinney said. "Joey's a different kind of guy, but he's a very successful businessman."

Not that Manchin is invulnerable. He caught flak after adopting "Open For Business," as a highway welcome sign slogan. He oversaw a statewide poll last year that helped revert it to "Wild, Wonderful."

Manchin also finds himself fielding questions about the executive MBA degree awarded retroactively to daughter Heather Bresch, the chief operating officer of Mylan Inc. West Virginia University has appointed a committee to investigate whether Bresch completed the necessary credit hours and other requirements while attending its business school in 1998.

Casey discounts the EMBA issue as campaign fodder.

"It's kind of an academic discussion," Casey said Tuesday.

Casey also estimated that Manchin has amassed about $2.1 million for his re-election bid, with much of that carried over from his 2004 effort. Manchin won his first term with about 64 percent of the vote.