Early Poll Shows Justice As Slight Favorite In Governor's Race

By David Gutman WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. W.Va. - Eight months before voting begins, West Virginia's richest man looks like a slight favorite to be its next governor, according to a new poll.Democrat Jim Justice, the billionaire coal and agriculture magnate and owner of The Greenbrier resort, leads state Senate President Bill Cole, R-Mercer, in a hypothetical matchup by a 46 percent to 37 percent margin in the newest edition of the West Virginia Poll released by longtime pollster Rex Repass.But while Cole has no major opposition in the Republican primary, Justice will face state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, in next May's Democratic primary.