Bill Clinton, Palin Join W. Va Battle

Big guns from both sides have joined the fray as the Senate race in West Virginia tightens up. The state hasn't sent a Republican to the Senate since 1958 but Gov. Joe Manchin, running for the seat left open by Sen. Robert Byrd's death, is facing a tough challenge from Republican businessman John Raese, who has Sarah Palin's support, the AP notes. "The last things Washington DC needs is another rubber-stamp vote for President Obama and the liberal agenda," Palin wrote on her Facebook page.

Bill Clinton—the last Democratic presidential candidate to win West Virginia—spent Monday in the state trying to raise Manchin's profile, telling voters that the Democrat would have a huge lead if it wasn't for the country's struggling economy. "I don't blame anybody for being mad. We've had a huge economic body blow," Clinton said. "But I'm old enough to know that if you make a decision when you're mad—and this is not just politics—there's about an 80% chance you're going to make a mistake." The GOP canceled a campaign ad in the state after a casting call was made for "hicky" actors, click here for that story.
(More Election 2010 stories.)