Harder for Republicans to "reach across the aisle" with fewer Democrats sitting from coal country House districts-Politico

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Oh no! No one left to 'reach across' to.

11/8/14, "Dems may face long exile from coal country," Politico Pro, Erica Martinson

p. 2: "While the new GOP majority in Congress means fossil fuels will see more support in Washington, the loss of so many Democrats from coal-heavy House districts may make it 

harder for Republicans to reach across the aisle

on measures to benefit the industry....

Republicans will still have Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana to turn to on coal issues.

Manchin, West Virginia’s remaining Democrat in a national office, is still hopeful about finding a way forward on climate change regulations. But he hasn’t written off retreating to the state and running for his old job of governor if he can’t find common ground between the two parties in Washington.

“I’m keeping every option open, I’ll wait until next year, see how things shape out,” he told POLITICO. “If it looks like it’s going to be same old, same old… it’s not going to be a place I’m going to want to spend a great deal of time.”" (end of article)

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Comment: It doesn't sound like Manchin's about to flip to the GOP as some have speculated. He sounds ready to bail.