CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The Republican running for West
Virginia secretary of state wants to withdraw from the race in the
hopes that the incumbent will take his place.

But Secretary of State Betty Ireland remains firm in her
decision not to seek another term.

State law also bars the GOP nominee, Charles Minimah, from
withdrawing his candidacy. The deadline for pulling out was last
week.

The Democrat in the race, Natalie Tennant, questioned the
gambit.

"Voters want to know you're in to win it," said Tennant. "You
shouldn't be half-committed."

Minimah announced his desire to step aside Monday, noting that
Ireland had cited the need to care for her elderly parents when she
opted against re-election.

"However, with the unfortunate passing of both of her parents,
I believe Betty represents West Virginia's best option to keep the
state's election division moving in a positive direction," Minimah
said in a news release.

The GOP incumbent will not enter the race, including as a
write-in, Deputy Secretary of State Sarah Bailey said.

"This announcement came as a complete surprise to Secretary
Ireland," Bailey said. "The Republican Party already has a
candidate for the office."

Minimah's offer also follows weekend polling that apparently
showed high percentages of undecided voters in some parts of the
state. A Nigerian immigrant-turned-Charleston-businessman who's
lived in the state for nearly 30 years, Minimah previously ran
without success for the state Legislature in Kanawha County.

Tennant, meanwhile, is a former broadcaster who bested two
legislative leaders to win the Democratic primary in May. She
narrowly missed the mark in the 2004 primary for the statewide
office, which oversees elections and corporate registrations among
other duties.

But state Republican Party Chairman Doug McKinney says the
polling results also mean that Tennant does not have the statewide
name recognition he thought.

"In some areas she's not as well-known," McKinney said. "In
some areas, as high as 60 percent were undecided."

McKinney expects Minimah to stay in the race. Minimah did not
immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

Citing the passed deadlines that bar both withdrawals and new
candidates at this point in the election season, Tennant said
she'll continue to focus on her own effort.

"I have to run my race, no matter who it's against," she said.
"There are parts of the state where I am not well known. That's
why we campaign."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)