Byrd Is In Trouble

Don Surber blogged More than a year away, Bob Byrd has already raised more money for his 2006 campaign than he raised in the entire 2000 campaign. Now we know why: He is down to a 3-point lead in the polls over Shelley Moore Capito. That is within the margin of error... The big winner in this is Dubya. Keeping Byrd sweating helps. Maybe that is why Byrd went from the Filibustering Defender of the Constitution in this judicial vote fiasco to the Monte Hall of the Senate as in "Let's Make A Deal."

Capito is Byrd's worst nightmare: young, pretty and influential. She has deep roots in West Virginia. She saves the 130th Airlift Wing while adding C-5s to the Martinsburg air base and Byrd will be sweating bullets. She is smart enough not to wave the tattered bedsheet at Byrd, who is beloved by many in West Virginia, in much the same way Strom Thurmond was a historic figure in South Carolina. What makes Capito formidable is not who her daddy is (Arch Moore is right up there with Byrd in popularity) but who she is. She was outspent 6-to-1 and 3-to-1 in a Democratic congressional district and handed Jim Humphreys his hat both times. The second time she beat him by 13 points even though Byrd came to the aid of Humphreys. Byrd will have big money behind him. Soros may lose his shirt as the euro slides, but he still has his pants, shoes, socks and tie. The billionaire wing now owns the Democratic Party. Members of this billionaire boys club are mad as a hatter and rich as Midas.

Hugh Hewitt blogged Robert Byrd has to consider whether he wants his long Senate career to end with a defeat, or with a voluntary farewell party.

This is wonderful news.