W.Va. Democrats to skip convention

A trio of West Virginia Democrats will not attend the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte to formally renominate President Obama this summer.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Sen. Joe Manchin and Rep. Nick Rahall do not plan to attend the convention, according to state party chairman Larry Puccio, who released the state's convention delegation list today in accordance with party rules.

West Virginia's senior senator, Jay Rockefeller, will attend, the state party.

Obama is highly unpopular in West Virginia, a fact most recently reflected in the state's May 8 presidential primary where a federal inmate won over 40% of the vote against him.

Manchin in particular has sought distance from the president. In April, Manchin said he was not committed to supporting Obama's re-election.

"I intend to spend this fall focused on the people of West Virginia, whether that's representing them in my official U.S. Senate duties or here at home, where I can hear about their concerns and ideas to solve the problems of this great nation," Manchin said in a statement regarding his decision to skip the convention. "I will remain focused on bringing people together for the next generation, not the next election. "

Rahall's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.