Blue Collar Job Losses Likely to Sway West Virginia Voters

[Nicholas_J]

Blue Collar Job Losses Likely to Sway West Virginia Voters
Dan Heyman
Elkins, West Virginia
22 Sep 2004, 19:03 UTC

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AP
Steel plant dominates downtown skyline in Weirton, West Virginia
The presidential election could be decided in the steel mills of places like Weirton, West Virginia. Weirton is a small industrial city in a narrow part of the state sandwiched between two other so-called battleground states, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Industries in the area, especially steel, have been hurt by cheap imports and voters here want to know what the candidates will do to help them.
It was no accident that at a campaign rally last month in Wheeling, West Virginia, a steelworker from the mill in near-by Weirton introduced George Bush. Rick Casini told the crowd the president has stood up for the industry in its long running battle against global competition.


The steelworker community is a vital voting block in the region, but it's been a steadily shrinking group. Twenty-five years ago the Weirton mill where Mr. Casini works had three times as many employees as it has now. Nationally, more than 40 steel firms have filed for bankruptcy since the late 1990s. In a move popular with the remaining steelworkers, Mr. Bush imposed tariffs on imported steel in March of 2002. But retired Weirton steelworker Rocco Mancanno says the president didn't follow through.

"I feel betrayed, big time betrayed,' he says. "Bush running for reelection, I am totally against him. The tariffs was set to go for three years, and he cut them after 18 months, because of the pressure from them Europeans."

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