photo by: Joselyn King

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and former Wheeling mayor Glenn Elliott, right, greets Marshall County Democratic Party Chair Barb Scott, left, and Jenny Craig, secretary for the West Virginia Democratic Party, during a town hall meeting and campaign fundraiser Thursday night at the First State Capitol Building in Wheeling.

WHEELING — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Glenn Elliott said there are “clear contrasts” between him and his opponent, Republican and current West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice.

One of them is that if elected he plans to work at the Senate full-time, while he said Justice doesn’t.

Elliott provided remarks during a campaign town hall and fundraising event Thursday night at the First State Capitol in Wheeling — his hometown where he is the former mayor.

“Of the two of us, I’m the only one who does want this job and intends to make it a full-time job if elected,” Elliott said of Justice. “He has a sense of entitlement. He thinks this Senate seat is his. I think when people actually look at the two candidates, they will see I’m the one who will actually show up to work and who will never embarrass them on the national stage.

“You can be a part-time governor and (others) will accommodate you,” Elliott said. “You cannot be a part-time U.S. senator.”

Elliott noted he worked for the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, when Byrd was in his late 70s.

“There were nights upon nights when we had roll call votes going past midnight, and he would be there. He didn’t miss a vote,” Elliott said of Byrd.

The U.S. Senate is a seniority-based institution “where you have to be on the right committee, and you have to show up,” he continued.

Elliott also noted Justice has had a long list of highly publicized financial issues in recent months, including the historic Greenbrier Resort he owns being listed for public auction twice due to default.

The Justice family announced earlier this month it had refinanced a loan that satisfied its debt with Beltway Capital.

Elliott estimates “80% to 90% of senators think they should be president.”

“You are not in a room that is lacking egos,” he said. “If Jim Justice thinks he is going to walk into a room and be a celebrity, he is not.”

Elliott told those present “it has been the experience of a lifetime running for U.S. Senate.”

He praised the cooperation of his wife Cassandra “who has essentially been a single parent” to their 2-year-old son Harrison in recent months as he traveled the state for his campaign. She is presently in her ninth month of pregnancy with their second child.

He reported to the crowd his campaign has raised over $800,000 — “mostly in $10, $25 and $30 donations.”

Elliott added he has visited all 55 counties, and made a point to knock on the doors of not just Democrats but Republicans and Independents, as well.

“I’ve probably knocked on the doors of 200 people who have a flag of the former president (Republican Donald Trump) in their front yard,” he said. ” I knew it was going to be a tough sell, but I think I really made the case to a lot of those voters.

“Whoever you vote for for president … it’s that next vote down you have to look at very carefully and consider the future of West Virginia. I think this (the U.S. Senate race) is the most important race on the ballot in our state, and I am the one candidate who is going to make it a full-time occupation and put everything I have into it. My opponent is seeing this as a chance to do something part-time and add to his resume. The choice could not be more clear,” Elliott said.