Former interim Senator Carte Goodwin (D. WV) paid Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D. NV) a visit on Thursday:
http://thehill.com/...
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) met with Carte Goodwin, a potential Democratic Senate contender in West Virginia who has yet to indicate his interest in the race for retiring Sen. Jay Rockefeller's (D-W.Va.) seat.
According to The Associated Press, the two met on Thursday in the Capitol. It's unclear what other Democratic recruits Reid has met recently. - The Hill, 2/1/13
Ok, here's a little background info on Goodwin. He was the interim Senator between July and November of 2010 after Robert Byrd passed away. Before that he served as the Chief Counsel for then Governor Joe Manchin (D. WV) from 2005-2009. While serving as Chief Counsel, Goodwin helped draft mine rescue and security measures, sparked by fatal accidents in the Aracoma and Sago Mines:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
While Manchin's general counsel, Goodwin was considered key in drafting mine rescue and safety measures passed after fatal accidents at West Virginia's Sago and Aracoma coal mines in early 2006.
The governor's former longtime chief of staff, Larry Puccio, credited Goodwin for his role in that legislation as well as such other major administration policies as the conversion of the state's troubled workers' compensation program into a private insurance company.
"He's just a brilliant attorney, and I think he's very detailed and a disciplined individual," said Puccio, who had also been considered a potential Manchin pick. "I think he's a rising star, and West Virginians would do well if they involved such individuals in the process. I think so much of him." - Huffington Post, 7/16/10
He also worked on Manchin's campaign for Secretary of State in 2004. Goodwin also served as Chairman of the West Virginia School Building Authority and Chairman of the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform which was formed to analyze the judicial system in West Virginia. Goodwin served with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. So it's clear that Goodwin has a great working relationship with Manchin. So I don't doubt that Manchin would love to have Goodwin as his colleague in the Senate. If Goodwin does decide to throw his hat in the ring, Manchin will hit the campaign trail for Goodwin. He rejoined the firm in 2009.
I know the sound of Manchin's name makes everyone groan or throw up in your mouth. I don't blame you. But Manchin is popular in West Virginia and having him on the campaign trail for Goodwin would certainly help him defeat Shelley Moore Capito (R). Plus as much as I liked Jay Rockefeller and appreciate his speech calling out the coal industry, he wouldn't be much help for Goodwin. West Virginia may be a red state but it's a state that Democrats have control which is rare. Plus, with Goodwin as the nominee, he'll have the right amount of political clout to help him win. The Goodwins are the Kennedys of West Virginia:
http://www.dailymail.com/...
The senator himself comes from a family of lawyers and Democrats. The extended Goodwin family since risen to become one of the most prominent families in West Virginia. - 8/12/10
Goodwin worked at his family's prestigious firm, Goodwin & Goodwin in 2000 until 2005 after completing a year as a clerk for the 4th Circuit Judge Robert King in 1999 after finishing law school at Emory University. At his family law firm, Goodwin is a partner with his father, Thomas R. Goodwin. Goodwin specialized in litigation and appellate advocacy, as well as advising clients on government relations, intellectual property matters and commercial transactions. His father chaired the Board of Directors at West Virginia University. His uncle, Joseph Robert Goodwin, is Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. His wife Rochelle was Senator Rockefeller's state director and President Obama appointed Goodwin's cousin, R. Booth Goodwin, United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.
In the Senate, Goodwin did not support the cap-and-trade bill but did vote to extend unemployment benefits and voted to confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. After his interim service was up, Harry Reid appointed Goodwin to a two year position as Commissioner of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Goodwin also made Time Magazine's 2010 40 Under 40 list of up and coming stars in politics. I liked Goodwin's answers to a lot of his questions:
http://www.time.com/...
Who is your political hero/inspiration?
Lyndon B. Johnson.
What's your go-to political blog?
Political Wire is my go-to political blog, although it barely edges out the SportsGuy.
If you weren't working in politics, what would you be doing?
I would be practicing law.
What's the most overlooked issue facing America these days?
The role money plays in politics.
Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
Part of me will always be drawn to public service. Though I am not sure where my path will take me, I know I will always feel connected to serving the public. - Time Magazine, 2010
Emphasis mine.
That particular answer has me intrigued about his possible candidacy. With Senate Democrats fighting to overturn the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United, Goodwin might be a good colleague to have in the Senate on that issue. Especially for future legislation regarding campaign finance reform.
We have a big bench of candidates and I would like to know more about them, especially West Virginia Secretary of State, Natalie Tennet (D). But lets assume the Club For Growth come up short with finding a credible candidate and it ends up being Capito, who is a pretty strong candidate and will have the backing of big coal, we need someone who has name recognition and political clout. Goodwin is young and charismatic and has experience in both the U.S. Senate and in the West Virginia local government. He'll have Manchin's backing which would help win over conservative-leaning undecided voters. There's still more we need to know about Goodwin but it's understandable why Reid would want him to run for Senate. If he does run, I hope he'll make the role money plays in politics a key campaign issue.