Three Democrats running for the 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House agree on many of the issues, and all have embraced the national campaign word for Democrats: change.

"I think the people of West Virginia perceive things are going wrong and things need to be changed," said Richie Robb, an eight-term mayor of South Charleston.

"This is a year for change," said Anne Barth, a 21-year aide to Sen. Robert C. Byrd.

Retired state government lawyer Thornton Cooper said Democrats have to give district residents "a reason for change."

All three are vying in the May 13 primary election for the right to face four-term Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito.

The three met with editors of the Gazette on Tuesday to lay out their reasons why they should represent the state in Washington, D.C.

All three painted Capito as a Bush supporter who has caused harm to the nation's economy and enmeshed the country in an unwanted war.

They all agreed that being competitive in the state's Eastern Panhandle could be the key to defeating Capito, the daughter of Arch Moore, the state's only three-term governor, who went to federal prison in the early 1990s.

Barth noted she has spent a lot of time in the Eastern Panhandle working for Byrd. "You have to spend a lot of time there," she said.

Robb suggested "inspiring and working on turnout of the base of registered Democrats" as the way to carry that region.

He said the three issues he is advocating - health care for all, stopping the war in Iraq and restoring the middle class - are issues that can ignite Democratic voters.

Cooper conceded Capito would be difficult to defeat in the region she has cultivated.

Capito has won her home county, Kanawha, but not every election and never by much. Traditionally, she has made up those differences with huge wins in Berkeley and Jefferson counties.

"I think we can do better," Barth said.

But the three do agree more independents are registering in the Eastern Panhandle and they will be allowed to vote in the Democratic primary for the first time this year.

Three Democrats running for the 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House agree on many of the issues, and all have embraced the national campaign word for Democrats: change.

"I think the people of West Virginia perceive things are going wrong and things need to be changed," said Richie Robb, an eight-term mayor of South Charleston.

"This is a year for change," said Anne Barth, a 21-year aide to Sen. Robert C. Byrd.

Retired state government lawyer Thornton Cooper said Democrats have to give district residents "a reason for change."

All three are vying in the May 13 primary election for the right to face four-term Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito.

The three met with editors of the Gazette on Tuesday to lay out their reasons why they should represent the state in Washington, D.C.

All three painted Capito as a Bush supporter who has caused harm to the nation's economy and enmeshed the country in an unwanted war.

They all agreed that being competitive in the state's Eastern Panhandle could be the key to defeating Capito, the daughter of Arch Moore, the state's only three-term governor, who went to federal prison in the early 1990s.

Barth noted she has spent a lot of time in the Eastern Panhandle working for Byrd. "You have to spend a lot of time there," she said.

Robb suggested "inspiring and working on turnout of the base of registered Democrats" as the way to carry that region.

He said the three issues he is advocating - health care for all, stopping the war in Iraq and restoring the middle class - are issues that can ignite Democratic voters.

Cooper conceded Capito would be difficult to defeat in the region she has cultivated.

Capito has won her home county, Kanawha, but not every election and never by much. Traditionally, she has made up those differences with huge wins in Berkeley and Jefferson counties.

"I think we can do better," Barth said.

But the three do agree more independents are registering in the Eastern Panhandle and they will be allowed to vote in the Democratic primary for the first time this year.

"I think in Berkeley the independent registration is the key," Barth said. "There's an awful lot of independents," Cooper agreed.

All three Democrats are Kanawha County residents: Barth is a resident of Charleston, while Cooper and Robb reside in South Charleston.

They agree on such base issues as giving health care to the poorest people, though they differ slightly on how.

Robb suggested starting by combining all federal health care programs currently operating, then increasing coverage gradually.

Cooper said all people deserve the same type of coverage. "I just want universal health care and I don't care what the Republicans call it," he said.

Barth said it would be a gradual move. "I think it's pretty complex or they would have already solved it," she said.

She and Robb agree on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program, but Robb wants to move more quickly to a single-payer plan. He predicted big business will come along because it would also save it money.

Barth laid blame for the war in Iraq, high prices at the gas pump, higher prescription drug prices and an economy in recession at Capito's feet.

"She supported the Bush agenda," Barth said. "It's no accident that we have the economy now that we do."

"We've got a $9.3 trillion deficit," Cooper interjected.

All three also want soldiers out of Iraq as soon as possible.

Robb, a longtime Republican who switched to the Democratic Party a few years ago over differences with the Bush administration, compared the current war to the time he served in Vietnam. "It's not making us any more secure," he said.

Barth said the war continues to be a drain on the nation's economy. "We need to refocus our efforts to fighting terrorism around the world," she said.

"It's the biggest foreign policy blunder since the Gulf of Tonkin," said Cooper, referring to the congressional resolution that allowed an all-out fight in Vietnam.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.