West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D) announced over the weekend that he will retire at the end of his current term which expires in 2014.
Sen. Rockefeller, 75, is completing his fifth term in the Senate, continuing to be elected as a Democrat despite West Virginia becoming more and more of a Republican territory in its statewide elections. The announcement puts into play a seat normally regarded as a safe Democratic hold due to Rockefeller's tenure and ability to bring home pork - a feat learned well from Robert Byrd, who represented the state for over 50 years in the Senate himself.
Even Rockefeller himself acknowledged it may be a hard seat to hold now for Democrats, but stated, “It’s not a part of this. It was easy enough not to have to worry about that.”
Several factors, though, point to it possibly being a tough race. West Virginia has voted Republican in every presidential race since 1996. Rockefeller's enthusiastic support of Obamacare would make him a likely target. Lastly, popular Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R) has already declared for the race. With this announcement, though, a flip is much more likely.
And with this announcement, the 2014 campaign season has begun in earnest.
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