Dan Greear announces his campaign's leadership team on the steps of the state Capitol. (Photo by Chris Dickerson)
CHARLESTON – On the steps of the state Capitol, Republican Attorney General candidate Dan Greear announced his statewide leadership team.
""West Virginia is ready for our message of proven leadership and positive change," Greear said to open Tuesday's announcement. "I am proud to announce the team today that will help us carry this message throughout the state of West Virginia.
"I am humbled by the quality of the individuals who have chosen to join our campaign in key leadership roles. We will field the largest and most extensive ground campaign in the state since the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign. It will certainly be the most extensive ground campaign ever in a West Virginia attorney general race."
Greear said his team will be on the ground in all 55 counties in his race against AG Darrell McGraw.
"The chairpersons will be there, we'll be on phones, going door-to-door," he said. "We'll be at fairs, festivals and football games. It's going to be unprecedented."
Greear also said he's "very pleased" with how the campaign has been going.
"We're banging on everyone's door," he said with a chuckle. "We're gaining momentum and seeing the hard work starting to pay off. I know that as the election draws closer, we'll have more and more success."
Greear said he is hearing from many Democrats about the race.
"They are very concerned about how our current attorney general runs his office," Greear said. "You have seen House and Senate members talking about it. Now, people across the state are echoing those concerns."
Steve Harrison, a former House and state Senate member from Kanawha County, is the chairman of the Social Conservatives for Greear committee. That's one of the committees introduced at Tuesday's event.
"Dan is the clear choice for those concerned about life, traditional marriage and family issues," Harrison said. "He's the best choice … he'll make a great attorney general.
"We just ask everyone to get involved and help us out. He'll make us proud."
Del. Jonathan Miller, R-Berkeley, is a county captain for the Greear team.
"The attorney general plays an integral role in the state's legal system," Miller said. "Attorney General McGraw has done little to create jobs and help bring about legal reforms. He just wants to use the office to benefit himself."
Miller said he recently attended an American Legislative Exchange Council meeting in Chicago. He said McGraw's abuses of office were one of the hot topics.
"Darrell McGraw is the poster child for this reform," Miller said. "A Greear victory would signal to businesses that West Virginia is going to be open for business soon."
