CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Republican running for West Virginia secretary of state wants to withdraw from the race in the hopes that the incumbent will take his place.
But Secretary of State Betty Ireland remains firm in her decision not to seek another term.
State law also bars the GOP nominee, Charles Minimah, from withdrawing his candidacy. The deadline for pulling out was last week.
The Democrat in the race, Natalie Tennant, questioned the gambit.
"Voters want to know you're in to win it," said Tennant. "You shouldn't be half-committed."
Minimah announced his desire to step aside Monday, noting that Ireland had cited the need to care for her elderly parents when she opted against re-election.
"However, with the unfortunate passing of both of her parents, I believe Betty represents West Virginia's best option to keep the state's election division moving in a positive direction," Minimah said in a news release.
The GOP incumbent will not enter the race, including as a write-in, Deputy Secretary of State Sarah Bailey said.
"This announcement came as a complete surprise to Secretary Ireland," Bailey said. "The Republican Party already has a candidate for the office."
Minimah's offer also follows weekend polling that apparently showed high percentages of undecided voters in some parts of the state. A Nigerian immigrant-turned-Charleston-businessman who's lived in the state for nearly 30 years, Minimah previously ran without success for the state Legislature in Kanawha County.
Tennant, meanwhile, is a former broadcaster who bested two legislative leaders to win the Democratic primary in May. She narrowly missed the mark in the 2004 primary for the statewide office, which oversees elections and corporate registrations among other duties.
But state Republican Party Chairman Doug McKinney says the polling results also mean that Tennant does not have the statewide name recognition he thought.
"In some areas she's not as well-known," McKinney said. "In some areas, as high as 60 percent were undecided."
McKinney expects Minimah to stay in the race. Minimah did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
Citing the passed deadlines that bar both withdrawals and new candidates at this point in the election season, Tennant said she'll continue to focus on her own effort.
"I have to run my race, no matter who it's against," she said. "There are parts of the state where I am not well known. That's why we campaign." |