Published: October 20, 2008 12:55 am      

Congresswoman Capito

Incumbent holds healthy lead over challenger in recent polls

ROMNEY, W.Va. — The only Republican member of West Virginia’s congressional delegation made strides on Sunday in making sure there’s at least one of her party in Congress come Nov. 4.

U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito spent 90 minutes visiting with supporters in Romney in the temporary headquarters for the Hampshire County Republican Executive Committee located in the former Romney Cycle Center building along U.S. Route 50.

The event had an informal atmosphere and was billed as an information reception. More than 500 county Republicans received invitations. Dozens milled in and out between 1 and 4 p.m. for the political discourse and food provided by Gourmet Central.

Capito is being challenged by Democrat Anne Barth, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd. The incumbent currently holds a healthy lead in recent polls but locals aren’t taking anything for granted.

“We’re not giving up,” said Walt Davis, chairman of the Hampshire County Republican Executive Committee. “We’re working it as though it’s a risk.”

But in his own estimation, Davis said he doesn’t think West Virginia “could afford to lose her.”

The economy took center stage as the primary topic of discussion among supporters during Capito’s visit. Capito voted against President Bush’s $700 billion economic stimulus package twice — once in the House of Representatives and again when, after more than $100 billion was tacked on by her colleagues in the Senate, the bill returned to the House for consideration.

The final bill, which passed earlier this month, contained “too much money, too fast,” Capito said. Her vote against the bill reflected her “skepticism in the plan.”

Capito said she had a moral and practical dilemma when Bush asked for her vote. In four days, she said, she was to decide on $700 billion without knowing the “why” or “how” it was to be spent.

“That didn’t sit well with me,” Capito said to the friendly crowd. “The response in my office was ‘no,’ ‘heck no,’ or some other kind of ‘no’ (that) I’ll leave to your imagination.”

Supporters said Sunday her preference was to provide $100 billion or so in assistance and evaluate how much that helped before providing any more money.

Bob Pownall of Augusta agreed with Capito’s position.

“Something had to be done,” Pownall said. “I just think they’ve gone about it the wrong way.”

Martha Hannah, of Dogwood, hopes Capito retains her seat in Congress and hopes Arizona Sen. John McCain wins the presidency. She thinks McCain’s chances are “top-notch.”

The retired nurse and mother of three teachers, including one in West Virginia, said the economy is “very scary” but “I wouldn’t know where to start” to fix it “other than something’s got to be done.”

Pownall also said he’s talked with Capito about his concerns for energy. He promotes coal-to-liquid energy plants in the Mountain State. Capito said Sunday America should be using its own natural resources despite certain sacrifices. And in a coal state such as West Virginia, “we understand what that means.”

Capito said Americans should consider any type of clean or renewable energy, including wind, water, solar and coal-to-liquid, “until we find that next best fuel.”

Capito staffers said Sunday that both energy and, primarily, the economy are expected to be issues discussed in the anticipated November legislative session.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.