2014 WV Senate debate: on Energy & Oil

Natalie Tennant: All-of-the-above energy approach, with priority on coal

Tennant said that she envisions West Virginia employing an "all-of-the-above energy source" in the future. "The vision I have for West Virginia is an economy that is built on many different job opportunities, whether it's coal, natural gas (or) water. We're not going to replace coal; it is too important. But that doesn't mean we can't have an all-of-the-above approach."

She sees the technology and manufacturing industries as potential economic winners, and she feels they could play a dual role by serving to facilitate coal's continuing role in the future. "We have to advance coal so it continues to be a strong part of our future."

Shelley Moore Capito: AdWatch: Fights back against Obama's war on coal

Capito, according to the Chamber, is "fighting back against the Obama administration's war on coal." The spot, which begins airing Thursday, describes her as a strong conservative who will "stand up for all of West Virginia. She's one of us."

John Raese: 2010 alternative energy bill was WV's own cap-and-trade Bill

This trend against traditional energy sources in West Virginia has continued unabated by the Obama EPA, forcing the closure of over 100 coal operations statewide, with the result of lost jobs and state revenue. [After 2010 as a] US Senator, Manchin has seemed unable or unwilling to do much about this devastating blow to our economy, despite his close personal friendship with President Obama.

John Raese sounded the alarm, demanding that the EPA be made more accountable for their anti-coal bias. Unlike Manchin, Raese could see that a committed liberal like Obama was not likely to change stripes, and he was right.