In West Virginia, WOWK13’s Rob Cornelius writes that liberal Joe Manchin’s support for the his Washington party bosses’ unpopular agenda may make “West Virginia…the linchpin of a GOP takeover of the U.S. Senate”:

One flat tire on a plane and a couple bad polls later, all of a sudden West Virginia might be the linchpin of a GOP takeover of the U.S. Senate…. For the last four years, national Democrats have done things in Congress and the White House that were simply antithetical to the values of West Virginia voters. Manchin played nicely with these guys, shaking hands and taking pictures despite their overt opposition to coal and guns and life and the issues that still shape our values here. He never stood and loudly told them “No, you’re wrong.” Playing along would mean power and pals in D.C. someday. It turns out that running against Barack Obama and his own party would have been exactly the best call for the governor. These guys, Obama and Pelosi and Reid, are going to hurt you. He should have rebuked them when he had the chance. Napoleon said never to interrupt the enemy when he is making a mistake. Thanks for not bothering the governor too loudly, Republicans.