West Virginia Governor to Name Senate Appointment Tomorrow

West Virginia's Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin will announce his appointment to the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd tomorrow.

Manchin has yet to say who he will appoint, but the interim appointee will be in attendance and make remarks at Manchin's afternoon announcement.

It is almost certain Manchin will appoint a Democrat to fill Byrd's seat until there is a special election, expected to take place this November. Manchin has said that would not appoint himself to the seat but that he is very interested in running in the special election.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today that the new senator will be sworn in on Tuesday. Once another Democratic senator is in office, Reid plans to take another crack at extending unemployment benefits. Democrats have so far failed to get enough votes to pass an extension over a Republican filibuster. Republicans are concerned the benefits extension will add to the deficit.