SCF launches ad in W.Va. House primary

Senate Conservatives Fund is launching a new ad for Republican Alex Mooney, the frontrunner in the GOP primary to replace Senate candidate Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

{mosads}The minute-long radio ad calls Mooney, who formerly served as the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party before moving to West Virginia last February to run for the seat, “West Virginia’s conservative choice for Congress.”

His move sparked carpetbagging charges in the primary, but Mooney’s largely been able to coalesce support behind him, drawing the backing of a wide range of conservative figures and groups. That includes former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), a libertarian leader, along with a number of pro-gun rights groups and the Tea Party Express, among others.

Mooney’s primary opponent for the nomination, former state Delegate Charlotte Lane, has deep local ties and has received the backing of local groups like the West Virginia Coal Association. Still, at the end of March, Mooney had about $358,000 cash on hand to Lane’s $233,000.

Democrats have largely coalesced behind former state party Chairman Nick Casey.

The two will face off, along with seven other GOP candidates, on May 13.