Five-term incumbent Democrat Jay Rockefeller was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2008. He announced on January 11, 2013 that he would not seek reelection to a sixth term.

On November 26, 2012, Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito announced her plans to run for the seat. 

A January 2013 poll by Harper Polling shows Moore Capito leading all potential Democratic opponents by significant margins.

If elected, she would become the first woman U.S. Senator from West Virginia and the first Republican elected since 1956.

The woman's vote. The Democrats running don't have name recognition. It is very helpful if Senator Rockefeller would provide endorsements for the Democratic candidate. 

The poll tested both parties’ primary fields and theoretical general-election matchups. What is clear from this early read is that Capito is well-known and, at least for now, is well-liked.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Nick J. Rahall II led the field of potential candidates and appears to be the strongest general-election nominee against Capito. In a general-election test, 50 percent of respondents said they would support Capito, while 32 percent said they backed Rahall. Eighteen percent were undecided.

The numbers slide for Democrats when Capito is matched up against former Sen. Carte P. Goodwin and state Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Robin Davis, neither of whom is very well-known statewide. Capito took 53 percent to Goodwin’s 19 percent. 

Twenty-eight percent were undecided in that matchup. Against Davis, Capito took 51 percent and Davis had  24 percent. 

Twenty-five percent were undecided in that pairing.

A woman Democratic candidate is a possibility. I think the West Virginian Democrats need to start their campaigns now. They need to be known and put their qualifications before the voters. There are huge numbers of unknowns here.

Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, another possible Democratic contender, was not included in the survey. Tennant ran for governor in 2011, but she placed a disappointing third in the Democratic primary.

She ran for governor and landed in the Secretary of State Office. That is not bad for someone who finished third in the primaries. She must have incredible credentials.

GET OUT THERE!  

HOLD RALLIES!  

DON'T WAIT, IT WILL BE TOO LATE!

It isn't easy finding the right person to replace Senator Rockefeller.

Ms. Capito certainly isn't shy about letting everyone know who she is.