| Voters have lots of choices in voting for a West Virginia governor next Saturday, a governor that will serve 14 months before the regular election cycle takes over in 2012.
Observers say the turn-out will be light.
There are eight Republicans, six Democrats, and one Mountain Party candidate.
West Virginia hasn't elected a Republican governor since Cecil Underwood served from 1997 to 2001. Now there are eight Republicans
running, Betty Ireland, Mark Sorsaia, Mitch Carmichael, Bill Maloney, Cliff Ellis, Ralph William Clark, Larry Faircloth and Clark Barnes.
West Virginians have shied away from electing a governor from southern WV since the 1960s, but this could be the time.
There are six Democrat candidates - Rick Thompson, Natalie Tennant, Arne Moltis, John Perdue, Jeff Kessler, and acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
Robert Rupp, a professor of Political Science and History at West Virginia Wesleyan College, told state media that just about everything in this election is strange.
"This is a very historic and unusual election. Never have so many sought so little in such a short time," he said.
Rupp declined to make predictions, but he says in such a short amount of time to campaign, a candidate's name and popularity may play an important role.
Rupp says name recognition could be the most important factor.
"In West Virginia, we have very personal, retail politics. We want to know who your daddy is and we put your name on what town you come from," he said.
The special general election is October 4.
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