OPINION | Bill Hamilton didn’t have to run a negative campaign.

Bill Hamilton didn’t have to run a negative campaign. He had WV Democratic Delegates and Senators do it for him. He had the UMW do it for him. He had the WV Trial Lawyers do it for him. He had the WV Patriots for Liberty to do it for him. He had thousands of WV teachers and employees do it for him. Last, he had Upshur Indivisible and Upshur Indivisible Votes do it for him.

Bill Hamilton won only because thousands of democrats switched parties to Republican or voted Republican as non-affiliated. No one can dispute this. I have the emails that show this plan. But for hiding behind others to do his dirty work for him and the state workers working undercover, Hamilton’s political career would have been over.

This fall I predict that Hamilton will lose almost all of his support from the Democrats and the state workers. I predict that many Republicans in the 11th District will either vote for the democratic nominee or skip that office on the ballot. I predict that few Republicans at the state level will support Hamilton.

So, when I see so many people in Upshur County gloating over nominating a liberal Republican, I chuckle. I chuckle because they were fooled into voting against someone (Karnes) rather than voting for someone who represents their views. This short term win only made Upshur County weaker. If Hamilton wins, he will be ostracized in Charleston for accepting support from the democratic leadership. If he loses, Upshur County loses primary representation in the Senate.

Keep gloating and I will keep chuckling.