W.Va. Senate nominee Raese says Dem attacks are ‘pretty pathetic’

On Thursday, Manchin accused his GOP opponent of advocating policies aimed at “looking out for his top-end buddies,” rather than West Virginia’s middle class.

Raese denied that accusation, but the Republican is unabashed about his support for business and his belief that Democrats in Washington are stifling economic growth.

“I’m a capitalist, I’m a free enterpriser,” Raese said. “I believe in tremendous freedoms for the private sector, and one of the big issues we have in West Virginia and across America is the loss of our personal freedoms. I’m in business, so I can tell you every day that the loss of my freedoms are just catastrophic.”

Another of Manchin’s closing arguments is a TV spot that labels Raese’s ideas “crazy.” It recycles comments the Republican has made on opposition to the minimum wage and a call for “one thousand laser systems” to be put in the sky in the name of missile defense.

“I’m not even going to answer that ad,” Raese said of the spot. “I think that’s not even worth considering an answer.”

West Virginia pollster Mark Blankenship said if there’s one attack that may be moving voters to Manchin’s direction at the tail end of this campaign, it could be the hits on Raese for his out-of-state ties.

“I actually think it has been marginally effective,” Blankenship said. “This idea of questioning whether he even lives in West Virginia, I can see it having an impact with some voters.”

Still, Blankenship isn’t sure that West Virginia voters care about Raese’s wealth. 

“The state’s elected [Democratic Sen. Jay] Rockefeller again and again,” he noted. “He’s one of the richest members of Congress.”

Rockefeller occupies the fourth spot on The Hill’s list of the 50 wealthiest lawmakers, with a personal fortune of at least $83.7 million.