Robert Byrd Succession Hinges on Ambiguous West Virginia Laws
AP
West Virginia's Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin will have to appoint a successor to replace Sen. Robert Byrd, who died early this morning at the age of 92 -- and with ambiguous state rules making it unclear exactly what the replacement process will entail, his next step is anyone's guess.
Manchin told the Associated Press there is no timetable for him to consider Byrd's replacement -- but the timing of an announcement could impact for how long the appointee will hold the seat.
West Virginia law says that if there is a Senate vacancy more than two and a half years before the incumbent's term ends, there should be a special election after a candidate "has been nominated at the primary election next following such timely filing and has thereafter been elected," the Washington Post reports. There is some ambiguity as to whether that would mean there would be an election this November or an election in November 2012, when Byrd's term would have ended anyway.
There is also some question as to whether there is an official Senate vacancy currently -- or if that hinges on when the governor officially "declares" a vacancy. The governor could choose to wait until after July 3 to declare the vacancy, which would make it less than two and a half years before Byrd's term was up. That would definitively leave the governor's appointment in place until 2012, giving Democrats the advantage of time.
The state's Secretary of State's office tells CBS News that all the complexities of the special election to fill the seat will be discussed at the 4:30 p.m. Eastern news conference by Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.
Democratic sources say that Manchin will likely tap Nick Casey, the state Democratic party chair, to fill Byrd's seat, CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports.
According to Democratic sources, Manchin is interested in running for the Senate himself and quietly established a federal political action committee in early June to start raising seed money for a Senate bid, Ambinder reports. However, the governor told the AP he will not appoint himself to fill Byrd's vacancy.
Whether there is an election for Byrd's seat this year or in 2012, Republicans are expected to look to Rep. Shelley Moore Capito to run for the seat. Capito has represented central West Virginia since 2000. She was recruited to challenge Byrd in 2006 but decided against it, the Post reports.
"If there were to be a special election for the seat in November -- and it is not at all clear there will be -- from an electoral standpoint that might set up a very competitive contest, depending on the candidates," said CBS News Election Director Anthony Salvanto. "On one hand, this is a state that re-elected Democratic Senators Byrd and Rockefeller comfortably as well as Democratic Governor Joe Manchin. On the other hand, this is a state that has been very Republican in recent national presidential elections, among others."Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential election won easily over President Obama here, 56 percent to 43 percent, (and Mr. Obama lost the Democratic primary, too) and former President Bush won the state twice.
UPDATE: West Virginia Secretary of State Sets Special Election for 2012
More Coverage:
Robert Byrd's Death Leaves Financial Reform Vote Up in the Air
Pork or Progress? Sen. Byrd Leaves Legacy
Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia Dies at 92
Robert Byrd Photo Gallery
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No, read the article, it's up to whether or not the democrats want to play games and pretend Byrd isn't dead, so they can extend their power, without requiring an immediate election.....so it's up to the Democrat Governor...when they say....then on to the voters....
Well now I'm confused........does this mean that even though Michael Jackson is still dead, he is still a pedophile!?
Only a shameless moron or a corrupt Dem. politician (but I repeat myself) could argue that this Senate seat is not "vacant" NOW. Even though dead people have been known to "vote" in Chicago for many years, in the Senate only the living may vote. Any failure on the part of the Governor to declare the seat vacant immediately would figure in a conspiracy to deprive the people of West Virginia of their right to select a Senator of their own choosing for the remaining two years of the Byrd term.
The Senate was made by the Founders to represent the States. To give the States power over the Federal government.
But then we got stupid and took that power from the States...thus neutering the States...making it so the only way they can change policy in Washington is thru constitutional amendment.
Stupid! I am with you bickerstaff, time to give the Senate back to the States.
good_riddens
good_riddens
He only renounced it in public for political expediency. Not a change of heart.
*****
My point was in response to the other poster was in regard to term limits and if you had an ounce of skill in regard to reading comprehension, you'd have understood that.