Anne Barth's Democratic primary victory this week in the 2nd Congressional District was just a few minutes old, but her mind was already on bigger challenges.
The biggest challenge, beating Rep. Shelly Moore Capito (Republican)this fall.
Barth said "Rep. Capito came in with George Bush in 2000, and she should exit with him in 2008."
"She has been a steadfast partner in advancing Bush's failed domestic, economic and foreign policies, not the least being the Iraq war," Barth said.
"The Bush/Capito team has been a disaster for our nation, and I believe voters are ready to move the country in a different direction."
Barth told supporters, "It's going to take a strong, grass-roots coalition throughout the district. It's going to take the old-fashioned way of campaigning, going out and meeting people, talking to them face-to-face."
Barth didn't say it, but it's also going to take money.
West Virginia University political scientist Neil Berch estimates a challenger must raise between $500,000 and $700,000 to pose a credible threat to four-term incumbent Capito.
Capito already has about $1 million in her campaign fund. Barth has about $325,000.
Money alone won't win the seat, which Capito has defended from a series of well-financed Democratic challengers.
Stretching from Point Pleasant on the Ohio River to the Washington, D.C., commuter belt towns of the Eastern Panhandle, the 2nd District forces candidates to rack up hundreds of miles on the campaign trail and spend money on ads in at least three different media markets.
Capito, the daughter of former congressman and convicted governor Arch Moore, has used her name recognition to win votes not only in the Republican-dominated eastern panhandle, but also in the Democrat-rich population centers of the state.
"I have always faced tough elections and the liberal special interests in Washington will once again attempt to distort my record," Capito said.
Capito said this week that her ties to President Bush's policies will be a campaign theme that will be used by Barth, saying she has supported a number of measures for WV citizens not supported by his administration.
Barth said Capito, with a few exceptions, has been a "lock-step" supporter of Bush economic policies to the Iraq war.
"Her failing is not her personality, her failing is casting her lot with George Bush," state Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey said of Capito. "She's going to cast her lot with John McCain, and the people of West Virginia know we can't have four more years of this."
A Suffolk University poll released Monday showed that 77 percent of Democrats and unaffiliated voters have an unfavorable opinion of the president.
The phone poll, conducted May 10-11, involved interviews with 600 likely voters. Capito must win some of those Democrats and independents over, since they make up the majority of voters in her district.
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