More than 250 people were in attendance when the candidates for West Virginia’s Second Congressional District faced off last night at Musselman High School in the final of the WEPM and Journal candidate forums for 2008.  Incumbent Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito (R) and challenger Anne Barth (D) sat down to answer questions from the panel and from the audience.  The debate was moderated by Blue Ridge Community and Technical College President Peter Checkovich.  Crowds lined the streets with signs supporting their candidates prior to the debate and supporters cheered and yelled during the debate itself, a sign of the excitement that has been created as this heated campaign nears a finish.  The panel went through two rounds before moving on to questions form the audience due to the large number of questions that had been submitted.  Candidates faced questions on national issues such as health care and the war in Iraq, as well as issues that hit closer to home for West Virginians such as how coal might fit in to new energy policies.If reelected, Republican Capito will serve her fifth term in Congress.  Barth served in Senator Byrd’s office for more than 20 years before making her first bid for Congress earlier this year.Early voting ends this Saturday, November 1^st and the last chance to vote will be Election Day this coming Tuesday, November 4^th.Photos by Robert Lyles      

Categories: Local News
Tags: Barth, Capito, Debate, Election, Fogle, Journal, McVey, Roberts