Attempts by Oliverio to arrange a debate with the 14-term incumbent have gone unanswered
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Sen. Mike Oliverio is eager to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan in at least one debate before the two candidates clash at the polls in the May 7 Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District seat.
So far, though, the 14-term congressman from Fairmont appears unwilling to meet Oliverio in a public showdown.
Oliverio, of Morgantown, says his staff has been trying to contact representatives from Mollohan's campaign about the possibility of a debate or series of debates, but has yet to receive a response.
Calls from the Daily Mail to Mollohan's office went unanswered as well.
"There doesn't seem to be any interest on their part in wanting to do this," Oliverio said.
It's not unusual for incumbents to decline debates that serve to generate more publicity for their lesser-known, underdog challengers.
But if a debate happens, Oliverio said he'd like to ask Mollohan why he is steering roughly $250 million in line-item expenditures to several nonprofit organizations run by some of his close friends and real estate partners. The Justice Department conducted a multi-year probe, which did not lead to any criminal charges. Federal investigators have refused to release any details about their findings.
"A lot of people in the district are still wondering how he's become one of the wealthiest members in Congress," Oliverio said. "The congressional pay certainly doesn't suggest someone would become extremely wealthy on that."
Along the campaign trail, Oliverio has been hammering Mollohan and other Washington politicians on deficit spending.
Oliverio, who's served as a legislator for 18 years and ran twice unsuccessfully for Secretary of State, is touting balanced budgets, improved bond ratings and decreasing debt in West Virginia's capital.
"My feeling is in Charleston we've been getting it right and in Washington, we've been getting it wrong," he said. "I think he should answer to constituents about why he's continued to vote to allow our country to plunge further and further into debt."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State Sen. Mike Oliverio is eager to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan in at least one debate before the two candidates clash at the polls in the May 7 Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District seat.
So far, though, the 14-term congressman from Fairmont appears unwilling to meet Oliverio in a public showdown.
Oliverio, of Morgantown, says his staff has been trying to contact representatives from Mollohan's campaign about the possibility of a debate or series of debates, but has yet to receive a response.
Calls from the Daily Mail to Mollohan's office went unanswered as well.
"There doesn't seem to be any interest on their part in wanting to do this," Oliverio said.
It's not unusual for incumbents to decline debates that serve to generate more publicity for their lesser-known, underdog challengers.
But if a debate happens, Oliverio said he'd like to ask Mollohan why he is steering roughly $250 million in line-item expenditures to several nonprofit organizations run by some of his close friends and real estate partners. The Justice Department conducted a multi-year probe, which did not lead to any criminal charges. Federal investigators have refused to release any details about their findings.
"A lot of people in the district are still wondering how he's become one of the wealthiest members in Congress," Oliverio said. "The congressional pay certainly doesn't suggest someone would become extremely wealthy on that."
Along the campaign trail, Oliverio has been hammering Mollohan and other Washington politicians on deficit spending.
Oliverio, who's served as a legislator for 18 years and ran twice unsuccessfully for Secretary of State, is touting balanced budgets, improved bond ratings and decreasing debt in West Virginia's capital.
"My feeling is in Charleston we've been getting it right and in Washington, we've been getting it wrong," he said. "I think he should answer to constituents about why he's continued to vote to allow our country to plunge further and further into debt."
West Virginia Wesleyan political science professor Robert Rupp said if Mollohan eventually agrees to a debate, the congressman will insist on a very restricted format.
"When the incumbent is unwilling to debate, that's usually a sign they think any debate could lose points for them," Rupp said.
Rupp said Oliverio poses a serious challenge for Mollohan. Voters may question why the congressman would be opposed to a face-off, Rupp added.
With or without a debate, Oliverio acknowledges he faces an uphill battle and likens the scenario to the biblical story of David versus Goliath.
"I'll remind people David won," Oliverio said.
Mollohan hasn't had a strong challenge since 1984, the year of a Ronald Reagan landslide that helped to propel Republican Arch Moore into the governor's office for a third term. Mollohan captured 54 percent of the vote in the general election to defeat funeral director and former legislator Jim Altmeyer of Wheeling.
Mollohan succeeded his late father, Robert, in winning the seat for the first time in 1982. He took 53 percent of the vote against Republican John McCuskey, who later became a Supreme Court justice.
Mollohan faced no opposition from the GOP in eight of his 14 election bids. This time, however, several Republicans have thrown their hats into the race, including former legislators David McKinley and Sarah Minear, and Morgantown lawyer businessman and lawyer Mac Warner - a former Eagle Scout, George Washington High student body president and West Point graduate.
"The congressman's not going to be able to just mail this one in," Oliverio said. "He's going to have to earn his re-election and it starts in the primary."
Contact writer Sara Gavin at sara.ga...@dailymail.com or 304-348-5148.
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