| By Bob Weaver
We now live in a country where endless amounts of special interest money will likely determine most races, from Washington to the State House.
We now live in a country where endless amounts of special interest money is being spent to lobby politicians, ever increasing each political season.
The Rasmussen Reports opinion poll just released shows Gov. Joe Manchin's lead over Morgantown businessman John Raese narrowing to six points in the U.S. Senate special election.
The Rasmussen poll of 500 likely West Virginia voters conducted Sunday, gave Manchin a 48 to 42 percent lead over Raese, with the remaining 10 percent either undecided or favoring other candidates.
A similar Rasmussen poll conducted in July gave Manchin a 51-35 percent lead.
A whole lot of money, millions, will be poured into both campaigns, both well heeled.
With the US Supreme Court ruling that corportions and unions have unfettered limits on political contributions, this race, like many others, could be determined by he who has the most gold.
Raese will try to make President Obama look like the unofficial running mate of Manchin, evident in TV commericals runnng around the state.
Raese took a big step beyond calling Manchin a liberal, using the word "leftist."
"It's called a clear vision and a clear picture of what a liberal has done in West Virginia and what a leftist possibly can do if he is elected to the United States Senate. Because that's Mr. Manchin," said Raese.
Manchin responded,
"They're going to have to find other things to call me. I don't think that is something anyone can take seriously...They're reaching. I understand that. I've been around the system long enough."
Neil Berch, associate professor of political science at West Virginia University, said Raese will "try to convince West Virginia that Manchin's first name is Barack."
"If the Democrats fall apart nationally, then the West Virginia election gets closer," said Berch.
Critics of Manchin, who still support him, told reporters this week that it's a far stretch to call him a leftist.
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