Party chairs look ahead to governor’s race minus Manchin

West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas says U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s announcement that he won’t run for governor next year “has recreated some buzz” in the 2016 race.

Lucas said Monday he believes the Republican nominee would have defeated Manchin in next year’s race even though Manchin’s poll showed Manchin with a 2-to-1 advantage in a hypothetical match-up with state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Belinda Biafore said there’s no doubt Manchin would have been strong next year. As of right now, only state Senator Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) has formed a committee exploring a possible run.

Three Republicans, Morrisey, state Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer) and First District Congressman David McKinley, have “flirted with the notion of running” according to Lucas but that also may change.