Delegate Tim Manchin believes most folks are turned off by the avalanche of negative campaign ads that flood the airwaves in a political campaign and is pushing for a public financing law to rein in the use of big bucks to sway opinions.

Manchin recalled the massive spending a year ago by Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship in his all-out blitz to put control of the House of Delegates into the hands of the Republicans.

Except for a single triumph by a candidate with his blessings, Blankenship came out on the short end of the vote tabulation.

"I don’t think those kinds of negative campaigns and tactics are as effective against candidates whom people are familiar with," Manchin, D-Marion, said in a telephone interview…

In statewide races, slanted TV and radio ads can make a huge difference in the outcome, Manchin said. "I’m very much interested in seeing us come up with some sort of election reform that would provide an opportunity for candidates to reject all of those negative conditions."