West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III announced Wednesday that he would seek a special election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, which has left Democrats two votes shy of passage of financial regulatory reform legislation.
Manchin, a Democrat, said he would like a special election to be held in November to fill Byrd's seat, and he has asked the attorney general whether that is possible.
The West Virginia secretary of state said a week ago that an appointment to temporarily fill the vacancy is required, and an election cannot be held until November 2012.
"I think most agree, myself and Secretary of State Tennant included, that 2½ years is too long to wait for the people to have their say in an election," Manchin said.
Manchin said he will not move on an appointment or on the succession process until he receives the attorney general's opinion.
Meanwhile, Democrats remain two votes shy of the 60 needed to pass the regulatory reform bill and prevent a filibuster. Including Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, the bill has 58 confirmed votes.
Sen. Scott Brown, another possible Republican swing vote, told a television station in his home state of Massachusetts, that he is "liking" what he sees of the bill. Brown had issued a statement last week saying he was still considering whether to vote for the bill.
