[1] In August 2003 he announced that he would not stand again after admitting to an affair with a West Virginia Development Office employee Angela Mascia, who was also married.

[6] Manchin lined up support from various sources including labor leaders in order to reverse his defeat in the gubernatorial primary in 1996.

His main opponent in the primary was former State Senator Lloyd Jackson, who launched his campaign with a plan to reduce insurance costs.

[10] It saw a close race between three main candidates: Monty Warner, a retired army colonel and developer; Rob Capehart, a former state tax secretary; and Dan Moore, a former banker and car dealer.

Jesse Johnson, the Mountain Party candidate, unsuccessfully attempted to get the West Virginia Supreme Court to cancel the first debate, as he was not asked to take part.