GOP eyes new candidate to take on Mollohan

Former West Virginia state Del. David McKinley (R) was in Washington on Tuesday meeting with members of Congress and the NRCC, as he rounds up support for a possible run at Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.).

McKinley appears likely to run at this point (75-25, according to one GOP operative), and he would bring personal resources to the race. He ran for governor in 1996, losing the primary to Gov. Cecil Underwood (R), and is a former state GOP chairman.

Republicans have a number of candidates already in the race against Mollohan, including state Sen. Clark Barnes. But the national party is still looking for someone they believe can scare the incumbent. Mollohan is a retirement target for the GOP.

McKinley told the Charleston Daily Mail in recent weeks: "It pains me some because he’s been a friend, but I just think 27 years may be enough.”