I saw Sen. Byrd in the McLean Giant last Saturday. (He and his wife have shopped there for years.)
The man is very, very old, and can barely stand up. While I understand the will not to get in a wheelchair (my father had several bad falls before he gave in), this man cannot campaign as he is now. They can drive him to a few sites in a day, and have him do 2 minutes of "stand up"; (sorry), but that's all he can do. And that is now. Not a year from now. He will be worse off. It could be that when his old fans see him, they may want him to retire out of kindness. At any rate, the polls now are name recognition and reputation. When folks see him in person, it may change a lot.
I understand that he "brought home the pork". Few believe that will happen again. I understand loyalty in voting.
I've just seen youngsters visting the old folks homes (sorry, "retirement communities") and working hard beat solid but tired old-timers more than a few times.
BTW...do you know what the WV election law says abotu substituting candidates...makign a ballot change..remember what the Dems did in NJ..