Charleston, W.V. (AP) -- The last time Senator Jay Rockefeller lost an election in West Virginia, Richard Nixon was still in his first term as President.

The longtime political power, now running for a fifth term in the U.S. Senate, not only has name recognition, but more than 3.8 million dollars in his campaign treasury.

So why would anyone want to challenge him?

One challenger says it's because he's vulnerable.

Sheirl Fletcher is one of two challengers to Rockefeller in the May 13th Democratic Primary.

The former state lawmaker from Monongalia County says Rockefeller is out of touch with average West Virginians. She believes she can score a major upset.

Rockefeller says he's proud to run on his record of service in West Virginia.

The third Democratic Candidate is Boone County resident Billy Hendricks Junior, who challenged Senator Robert C. Byrd in the 2006 Primary.

Hendricks says he doesn't expect to win. He wants to draw attention to the federal deficit and what he says is a need for term limits on officeholders.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)