Gov. Manchin has scheduled a press conference for 2pm today to name replacement and to announce his intention to run for the seat.

The WV Legislature has not completed the official legislation yet, and they already took out Manchin's "fiscal sense primary" provision that said that if no candidates chose to challenge the "clear party favorite," then there would be no primary to waste the state's funds.  However, the legislature seen this as Manchin's attempt to keep primary challengers away or else claim they're "wasting taxpayer money."

Supposedly the White House has called Manchin to suggest that he name former liberal WV Governor & Harvard professor Gaston Caperton as replacement for Byrd for rest of 2010, knowing that the pro-choice, pro-entitlement programs, pro-financial regulation Caperton will likely be a vote for Kagen and the White House agenda.  However, folks in Charleston are saying that Manchin's going to disregard this request and name good friend & Conservative Democrat Lawyer Carte Goodwin instead.  Supposedly, Manchin wants someone who will allow him to privately choose how they vote because he feels he'll be held responsible for any vote the person casts and WV Voters will be more supportive of a temporary senator who votes against the Obama admininstration instead of a liberal "Yes Man."

Some say Byrd protege & former Democratic Chairman Nick Casey is still in the running, too.

However, the WVGOP says there's actually still 1 week remaining to get the election on the 2010 ballot.  But Manchin is saying if he waits until next week to name the successor, then it'll be to serve out the term because the deadline will be past.  He says it would be disrespectful to name a successor this week & therefore must wait until after deadline.

It should get interesting!