W.Va. Dems eye Rep. Capito's healthcare repeal vote (updated)

West Virginia is set to hold a special election for governor and Democrats intend to make Rep. Shelley Moore Capito's (R-W.Va.) vote for the healthcare repeal bill an issue if she runs.

"If the Republican leadership succeeds with a full repeal, thousands of West Virginians will lose their health care coverage," Larry Puccio, chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, said in a statement. "Make no mistake, if they vote for this repeal, they support taking away health care from people who have gained it since this bill passed."

In a statement Wednesday, Capito called the Democrats' reform bill "emblematic of the closed door, legislative trickery." 

"Despite promises to the contrary, millions of Americans may have to change their coverage and the CBO predicts that premiums will increase for those purchasing private insurance," she said.  

Capito said she supports some provisions of the bill, such as the ones allowing children under 26 to stay on their parents' coverage and preventing insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. 

"These simple solutions are attainable without a complete government-takeover of the healthcare system that Americans neither want nor can afford," Capito added.

The House is set to vote Wednesday on a measure that would repeal the Democrats' healthcare reform legislation. Capito's office said she will vote for the repeal bill. She voted twice against the passage of the Democrats' legislation in the last Congress.

Meanwhile, the West Virginia Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled the state must hold a special election for governor this year. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) left the governor's mansion to run for Senate last year. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D) was subsequently elevated to the top job. He had intended to serve until the next election, but the court ruled that two years without an election was too long.

The special election is expected to take place several weeks before Nov. 15.  

Capito is considered a favorite, if she decides to run for governor. But one top Republican said the congresswoman wouldn't seek the job.

Betty Ireland, a former secretary of state who intends to run, said she spoke with Capito, who told her she wouldn't run. "She is the leader of the Republican Party in West Virginia," Ireland said of Capito, according to the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.

Whatever was said in private, Capito issued her own statement after the court ruling.

"I am humbled by the amount of support to run for office in 2011," she said. "However, my commitment remains strong to the people of the 2nd District to serve the entire term in the 112th Congress in which I was recently elected."

Capito is weighing the option of running for the governor's office, for Senate against Manchin or keeping her seat.

"Only until my obligations of this Congress are complete, will I consider running for any other office. I intend to evaluate those options at the appropriate time with my family and supporters and leave all my options available," she said Tuesday.

--Updated at 1:40 p.m.