Natalie Tennant Story Archives - Page 2 of 3 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Capito Won't Attend Senate Debate Friday

It’s looking unlikely that West Virginia’s two main contenders for an open U.S. Senate seat will debate again before Election Day.

Republican Shelley Moore Capito won’t attend a West Virginia Public Broadcasting debate Friday. Democrat Natalie Tennant, Libertarian John Buckley, Bob Henry Baber of the Mountain Party and Phil Hudok of the Constitution Party will participate.

Capito’s campaign said the congresswoman will be on her previously scheduled bus tour.

Capito and Tennant, West Virginia’s secretary of state, debated last Tuesday in Charleston. Third-party candidates weren’t involved.

The two met for a West Virginia Chamber of Commerce candidate forum at The Greenbrier in late August.

They are seeking retiring Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s seat.

The Friday morning debate will air in the evening.

Candidates on the Attack: The Race for the 2nd Congressional District

The race in the 2nd Congressional District has gotten more and more ugly over the past few weeks as candidates dig in for the final push before Election Day. Democratic candidate Nick Casey talks about his view of the partisan politics in Washington and how he thinks he can make a change, as well as discusses the major issues facing the district.

Dr. Scott Crichlow of West Virginia University discusses how a non-decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, in less than a week, caused West Virginia to go from a state defining marriage as between a man and a woman to one that is issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.

In a reporter roundtable, we recap the U.S. Senate debate between Shelley Moore Capito and Natalie Tennant and look forward to a debate in the 3rd Congressional District pitting Congressman Nick Rahall against state Sen. Evan Jenkins.

NRA Buys $218K in Ads Opposing Tennant for Senate

The National Rifle Association is putting almost $218,000 toward ads opposing Democrat Natalie Tennant’s bid for U.S. Senate.

Federal election records show the NRA’s Political Victory Fund bought radio and Internet ad space last week.

Earlier this month, the NRA endorsed Republican Shelley Moore Capito against Tennant. The NRA also bought almost $44,000 in pro-Capito mailings.

Both candidates tout records as gun rights supporters.

Other outside groups have gotten involved. This month, Defending Main Street Super PAC paid $50,000 for radio ads supporting Capito. Former Ohio GOP Congressman Steve LaTourette runs the group.

Senate Majority PAC spent $227,000 on TV ads bashing Capito in July.

Last December, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce paid $200,000 for online and TV ads supporting Capito.

Other groups have also spent in the race.

Reid Putting Political Muscle Behind Tennant Bid

Majority Leader Harry Reid is giving Democratic Senate hopeful Natalie Tennant a fundraising lift.An invitation obtained by The Associated Press says Reid…

Majority Leader Harry Reid is giving Democratic Senate hopeful Natalie Tennant a fundraising lift.

An invitation obtained by The Associated Press says Reid headlined a Tennant fundraiser Friday in New York City. Tennant campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Donohue confirmed the event.

Reid’s office didn’t respond to a call and email for comment.

Reid, Sen. Jay Rockefeller and musician Carole King are on Tennant’s invitation for a Washington, D.C., fundraiser Tuesday, but Donohue says Reid won’t attend.

Tennant, West Virginia’s secretary of state, has declined to say if she’d support Reid as leader.

It’s the most outward support Reid has lent Tennant, who’s considered an underdog against GOP Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito.

Last month, Capito joined Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for a Wheeling fundraiser. Her campaign says she’d support McConnell as leader.

Capito, Tennant Debate Offered Statewide

Residents across West Virginia can compare the positions of Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Secretary of State Natalie Tennant on key election…

Residents across West Virginia can compare the positions of Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Secretary of State Natalie Tennant on key election issues when the two debate on Oct. 7 at the Clay Center in Charleston, W.Va.

The 60-minute debate — sponsored by AARP West Virginia, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, West Virginia MetroNews Radio Network and the West Virginia Press Association — is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 at the Clay Center. MetroNews’ Hoppy Kercheval will moderate the debate.
Live coverage of the debate between the two U.S. Senate candidates will be available in all 55 counties, as West Virginia Public Broadcasting, MetroNews and the newspapers of the West Virginia Press Association have joined together to provide television, radio, internet and print coverage.

“The organizers want to give the residents of West Virginia a chance to compare the positions of Congresswoman Capito and Secretary of State Tennant,” said Don Smith, executive director of the West Virginia Press Association. “Election of the next U.S. Senator from West Virginia is vitally important for the future of West Virginia and will impact the direction of this nation. In organizing this debate, we wanted to ensure that all residents – from Cabell County to Jefferson County, Hancock County to Mercer County and all points in between – would have live access and thorough coverage.”

This debate will only include two – Capito and Tennant – of the five candidates filed for the U.S. Senate race. Libertarian Party Candidate John Buckley of Mathias, Mountain Party Candidate Bob Henry Baber of Glenville and Constitution Party Candidate Phil Hudok of Huttonsville have not been invited to participate in the debate.

The organizers’ decision to invite only two candidates was based on AARP’s established criteria for the inclusion of candidates. For political party candidates, the party must have received at least five percent of the votes in the last general election vote, if the party ran a candidate. For independent candidates, the individual must register at least five percent in voter support in public statistically significant polls conducted by news media or other independent organizations.

“As a non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization, AARP has worked for nearly 30 years to make sure that candidates address the issues important to older voters and that these voters have the information they need to make their own choices at the ballot box,” said Gaylene Miller, AARP West Virginia State Director. “We’re pleased to be working with these outstanding media partners to ensure all residents of the state have a unique opportunity to learn more about these candidates, in their own words, in a forum that’s focused on the issues most important to West Virginians and their families.”

Smith said the goal during the 60-minute broadcast is to present a fair and balanced debate that provides all voters with as much information as possible about candidates’ positions on key issues.

Between now and Oct. 7, organizers will work with professionals, experts, members of the media and members of the public across West Virginia to develop questions. Smith said organizers will reach out to business, industry, social and civic leaders for input.

“West Virginia newspapers, WVPB and MetroNews will be gathering input on questions for the candidates,” Smith said.

Organizers will use social media to poll West Virginia residents around the state about questions they have for the Senate candidates. Debate questions can be emailed to debate@wvpress.org or posted on Twitter using the hash tag #WVSenateDebate.

“All of that information will be gathered and used to formulate the actual debate questions,” Smith said.

Tennant, Capito Focus on Coal at Chamber of Commerce Forum

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is focusing on energy, education and elections at their annual business summit in White Sulfur Springs this week, but the election component is taking a front seat as the Chamber hosts forums to allow candidates for Congressional offices to debate.

Scott Rotruck of the law firm Spillman Thomas and Battle served as moderator for the forum that had both Natalie Tennant and Shelley Moore Capito sitting on the same stage.

Their opening statements touched on similar topics. Both were focused on energy, specifically the coal industry and the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed regulations on coal fired power plants.

“In West Virginia, we know that jobs start with energy and we know that energy jobs start with coal,” Tennant said.

“I have fought to stop the President’s war on coal and it is a war on coal,” Capito told the crowd in a Greenbrier Resort ballroom.

Both spoke of creating jobs, of strengthening education and taking on the “politics as usual” in Washington.

Rotruck asked candidates to define how they would defend coal, diversify the economy and protect Medicare and Social Security should they win the Senate seat.

Both spoke of reforming tax codes and protecting West Virginia’s seniors, Capito said by restructuring their benefits and Tennant said by voting to keep those benefits out of the hands of the private sector.

Secretary of State Natalie Tennant looks on as her opponent, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, gives her opening remarks.

In an earlier session, Republican U.S. House hopeful Evan Jenkins was set to debate Democratic Congressman Nick Rahall, but the Congressman didn’t show.

In a press release, his staff said Rahall was meeting with members of the Coalfield Expressway Authority in Mullens Thursday.

Jenkins said after the forum he was looking forward to debating the Congressman, but was still glad he had the opportunity to share his views with Chamber of Commerce members.

A third forum is set for Friday morning at The Greenbrier during the final day of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Business Summit. That forum will include Congressman David McKinley, Auditor Glen Gainer, Nick Casey and Alex Mooney, all running for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.