District getting national notice

McKinley’s opponent, Democrat Michael Oliverio, also has been added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “red to blue” priority list of candidates his party supports in 2010.

The NRCC announced this week it has elevated Wheeling businessman McKinley to “young gun” status – its top tier – among candidates in congressional races this year.

Andy Sere, NRCC spokesman, said the NRCC groups candidates into three tiers based upon the level of support they believe their campaigns have earned. Lowest tier candidates are “on the radar,” and McKinley had previously been listed as being a second-tier “contender” candidate.

The NRCC now has promoted McKinley to among 39 “young gun” top congressional candidates on its 2010 slate, Sere said.

“It says a lot about the caliber of his campaign,” Sere said of McKinley. “And 39 is the exact number of candidates needed for Republicans to take back the House.”

“My understanding is that this designation confirms that what we’re doing and have been doing throughout the campaign is meeting the goals that are necessary to win in November,” McKinley said. “… I am very proud of that.

“Now we are moving the campaign to the next step … and we hope to continue building enthusiasm for the possibility of success in the fall.”

None of the candidates are assured of receiving financial support for their campaigns from the NRCC, but all will get the expertise of the sitting Republican congressional members to draw upon, according to Sere.

Oliverio, meanwhile, attended a campaign reception in Wheeling this week. He is a Democratic state senator representing Monongalia County.

“Our response has been very strong,” he said. “We’ve generated a lot of momentum since Election Day, and we’re going forward.”

The DCCC did not back Oliverio during his primary campaign against incumbent U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., but now includes him among 26 congressional candidates it is pushing in 2010.

“This has opened doors in Washington,” he said. “To have the DCCC’s support is important to us. Now we’re reaching out for local support.”

Prior to winning the primary election on May 11, Oliverio said he would “vote in the best interest of West Virginia” if elected and voting for the next House speaker, and that he hoped there would be a better candidate than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

He didn’t indicate Tuesday whether or not he had changed his mind since then.

“My number-one priority is voting for what is in the best interest of West Virginians,” Oliverio said.

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