(CNN) - Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin will continue serving as West Virginia’s governor after narrowly defeating Republican businessman Bill Maloney in a special election Tuesday.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Tomblin received 49.4% of the vote to 47.2% for Maloney, according to unofficial results from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office.
“I called Earl Ray and congratulated him. He won, and that proves the power of democracy,” Maloney said in a statement. “The people made their choice, and I respect their decision.”
Tomblin, the former state senate president, has served as the acting governor since November 2010, when his predecessor Joe Manchin resigned to fill the U.S. Senate seat that once belonged to the late Sen. Robert Byrd. The incumbent will serve out the remaining 15 months of Manchin's term.
Well, well, well. The mainstream media was crowing that the WVA race was a "referendum on Obama". looks like they said YES to Obama! Sorry, T-Party!
Wow. Maloney handled that better than any politician in the past decade. Good for him.
Good choice, WV.
Take that GOP
Tomblin was Acting Governor, after Gov. Joe Manchin was elected to the Senate. Tomblin had won the primary and today beat Republican primary winner, Maloney, for the remainder of Joe Manchins' 4 year term. (Some minor party canidates also participated.) Next year there will be another primary and general election to elect our governor for a full 4 year term, beginning in Jan. 2013.
Dem wins in state that Obama lost in 2008 and is behind in the polls now. The Republicans will try but they cannot spin this one.
Get scared republicans ! Ya guys should be in panic mode .
A prelude to a GOP shellacking in 2012.
Thank you WV !
Poor republicans are having a bad day. First, Chris Christie bailed out on them and now this humiliating loss.
So if Maloney had won, all the Republicans would have been crowing about "they have a mandate from the people!" and "This shows a complete a rejection of Obama!"
But since the Democrat won, its just another race – no big deal. The blatant double standards is ridiculous.
I guess Republicans couldn't turn the race in WV into a referendum on Obama. Do you think this is a good sign for Democrats?
POLL: With Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin winning the West Virginia governor's race against Republican Bill Maloney, does 2012 look better for President Obama and other Democrats?
Vote: http://www.wepolls.com/p/3432785
Yesssss!
I got that one right as per previous post with reasons.
Hodgson.
It was NARROW but we won!!! Hopefully, this is an indication that the 99% of Americans woke up and finally realized that the Republicans LIE by saying ONE THING when they are running and do SOMETHING ELSE after they are elected!!!
We MUST get out there and VOTE!!! Wall Street is also an indication that the middle class is FED UP!!!
Obama/Biden 2012!
The Democrats squeeked out a win here. It should have beeen a wider margin. And in an ordinary year, I guess it would have.
GO DEMOCRATS OF WEST VIRGINIA LET'S TAKE THOSE REPUBLICANS AND TEA PARTY PEOPLE DOWN THEY ARE NO GOOD FOR THIS COUNTRY OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 THEY GOT MY VOTE
SWEEEET!!!
OBAMA 2012!!!