The announcement is out today: senator Jay Rockefeller has decided not to seek re-election in 2014. the long time West Virginia senator is retiring to spend more time with his family. (Does anyone ever retire to spend less time with the family?)
Although Jay would never admit it, his retirement is not entirely voluntary. Over the last ten years, West Virginia has gone from a reliable blue state to one of the reddest of the red. The constant attack by the Democrats on the coal industry combined with the passage of Obamacare which is extremely unpopulat in West Virginia raised a serious question as to whether or not Rockefeller could have been re-elected. On top of that, a popular Republican congresswoman already announced that she is running for the office. It seems to me that Rockefeller is just recognizing the handwriting on the wall.
Although Jay would never admit it, his retirement is not entirely voluntary. Over the last ten years, West Virginia has gone from a reliable blue state to one of the reddest of the red. The constant attack by the Democrats on the coal industry combined with the passage of Obamacare which is extremely unpopulat in West Virginia raised a serious question as to whether or not Rockefeller could have been re-elected. On top of that, a popular Republican congresswoman already announced that she is running for the office. It seems to me that Rockefeller is just recognizing the handwriting on the wall.
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