Governor to run for Byrd’s seat in November


July 21, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va.

Gov. Joe Manchin, a centrist and popular Democrat known for his calm, compassionate handling of a coal-mine disaster that killed 29 in April, declared Tuesday that he will run for the late Robert C. Byrd’s U.S. Senate seat.

The bid marks the latest rise in profile for the 62-year-old Manchin since the former state lawmaker captured the governor’s office in 2004 after a term as secretary of state. He became chairman of the National Governors Association earlier this month, enjoys high approval ratings in his state and was seen as a comforter- in-chief to victims’ families after April’s Upper Big Branch mine explosion and the 2006 Sago mine disaster.

The Nov. 2 winner would take over that month from Carte Goodwin, 36, Manchin’s temporary appointee.

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