| News Columnists Vote-buying in W.Va.? It's 'just in the blood' June 21, 2005 BY LAWRENCE MESSINA HAMLIN, W.Va. -- According to political lore, just before John F. Kennedy's win in the 1960 West Virginia primary, the Democratic boss of Logan County asked the Kennedy campaign for ''35'' -- meaning $3,500 -- to buy votes. In a misunderstanding, Kennedy's people delivered $35,000 in cash. West Virginia's coal country has a long history of vote-buying -- which explains why many folks in Lincoln County all but shrugged over the indictment last month of five people on federal charges they secured votes for liquor or a $20 bill or two. 'I'm sure they're still doing it' Sharrell Lovejoy, 83, said he has heard rumors of vote-buying since he opened his Bobcat Restaurant on Hamlin's main drag in 1948. ''It's gone on for ages,'' Lovejoy said. ''I'm su
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