It's been a tough night for Dems in Appalachia

[theHandpuppet]

2. It was only the grassroots movement that kept the races close

Just a few suggestions:

Federal commitment to reshaping the Appalachian economy. The biggest employer in WV is Wal Mart. What does that say? Take away union coal and all the well-paying union jobs associated with that industry (rail, shipping, trucking) ya got nothing. We all know that we have to cut back on the use of fossil fuels, especially coal, but you have to be able to offer folks an alternative economy, i.e., jobs that pay more than minimum wage. Coal-related jobs are bleeding out in Appalachia and people are scared.

Inspirational leadership. By that I mean a Democratic leader who can actually find Appalachia on a map of the United States. President Obama just hasn't connected here but then, neither has he tried, not in the way Dems used to.