Trump Urges W.Va. Voters To Reject Blankenship, Who Calls Himself 'Trumpier Than Trump'
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (KDKA) -- Voters in West Virginia go to the polls Tuesday to choose, among other things, the U.S. Senate nominees.
Among the candidates vying for the Republican nomination is former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.
What makes his candidacy extraordinary is his recent completion of a year in jail for his role in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster. A total of 29 miners died in that mine in April of 2010 when Blankenship was the head of the company. His conviction was on a misdemeanor charge and does not prevent him for running for elective office.
Blankenship has been running a "Trump" style campaign in the Mountaineer State, even including images of the president in his latest television advertisement.
But President Trump does not support Blankenship and today tweeted: "To the great people of West Virginia we have, together, a really great chance to keep making a big difference. Problem is, Don Blankenship, currently running for Senate, can't win the General Election in your State...No way! Remember Alabama. Vote Rep. Jenkins or A.G. Morrisey!"
To the great people of West Virginia we have, together, a really great chance to keep making a big difference. Problem is, Don Blankenship, currently running for Senate, can't win the General Election in your State...No way! Remember Alabama. Vote Rep. Jenkins or A.G. Morrisey!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2018
Jenkins and Morrisey both applauded Mr. Trump's tweet.
Blankenship responded in a statement that the "establishment is misinforming" the president. He vowed he is able to beat Democrat Joe Manchin in the fall in the general election.
And Blankenship said, "Tomorrow, West Virginia will send the swamp a message. No one, and I mean no one, will tell us how to vote. As some have said, I'm Trumpier than Trump and this morning proves it."
The former coal baron has been watching his numbers steadily rise and some in the GOP worry that if the anti-Blankenship voters split among the other candidates, Blankenship's base may be large enough to carry him to the nomination.
