Salon notes that West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D), who has the power to appoint an interim replacement for the late Sen. Robert Byrd, wants the seat for himself -- but has also ruled out appointing himself to it.
The timing of Byrd's death was important. Had the seat been vacant after July 3, state law would have allowed an appointee to remain through the 2012 election, when the full six-year term would be up. Instead, a temporary successor will be named and a special election held in November to serve out the final two years of the term.
"Even though this fall figures to be rough for Democrats, it's probably a better time for Manchin to run. He's plenty popular now and, thanks to his cultural conservatism and staunch defense of the state's coal industry, he's separated himself enough from Barack Obama and the national Democratic label that he'd probably be fine. And his presence in a special election this fall would probably scare off the strongest potential Republican, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito."
Update: Politico notes "the law is silent on when, exactly, a vacancy occurs -- at the
time of death, when the Senate informs the state or when the governor
declares it? -- and the law for calling a special election is written in a
way that suggests that it couldn't be held until the date of the next
regularly scheduled election in 2012."
In addition, a Manchin adviser tells First Read that he doubts there will be a special election in November.
