Posted on 04/17/2018 3:58:58 PM PDT by Mount Athos
With less than three weeks until West Virginia’s primary election, national Republican leaders seem to finally recognize that ex-con Don Blankenship has a very real chance to win the Senate contest and represent the party this fall against incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin III — and they are unleashing a last-ditch effort to stop him.
A recently formed PAC with ties to prominent Republican officials is spending about $700,000 on anti-Blankenship ads across the state ahead of the May 8 primary election. The former Massey Energy CEO, who spent a year in federal prison in connection with the 2010 Upper Big Branch explosion that killed 29 miners, is within striking distance, polling data show.
It’s increasingly clear that national Republican figures fear Mr. Blankenship could squander the party’s chances of defeating Mr. Manchin in a state that Donald Trump won by a historic margin in the 2016 presidential election.
“Who will clean up Washington? Not convicted criminal Don Blankenship,” the commercial’s narrator says before recounting an episode years ago in which Massey Energy stood accused of contaminating water supplies with coal waste.
“Mitch McConnell is likely lying when he says he fears I will not be able to defeat Joe Manchin in the fall. If he is not lying, he certainly has no idea what the political realities are in West Virginia,” Mr. Blankenship said. “McConnell should not be in the U.S. Senate, let alone be the Republican majority leader. He is a swamp captain.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The Stupid Party does it again
Would any Republican challenger have a serious shot at beating Manchin?
Ex-Con?
He should fit right in.
Was Blankenship persecuted by Obama as part of his relentless crusade against coal?
In order of conservatism, I would rank the three candidates:
* Don Blankenship <== most conservative
* Patrick Morissey
* Ed Jenkins <=== least conservative
In order of electability in a general election, I would rank the candidates:
* Patrick Morissey <== most electable
* Ed Jenkins
* Don Blankenship <== least electable
I’m voting for Morissey. He’s won statewide elections and he would be a vast improvement over Manchin. Blankenship just has too much baggage, including his company being tied to several mine mishaps over the years.
It would help if Rep. Evan Jenkins wasn’t GOPe and a former Democrat who kissed up to ObaMao in 2012.
You have to wonder about Blankenship’s candidacy. Being a very outspoken coal operator in the state he very easily matches the average West Virginian’s image of the coal robber baron and that was before he went to jail for safety violations. Now did he deserve to go to jail for those safety violations? I have no idea! But to jail he did go, that’s not my idea of a resume enhancer when it comes to running for office. So why is he running when there is a perfectly good GOP candidate in Morrissey. Good question! Because I don’t know! I can’t imagine he has much support.
Yes, Blankenship’s conviction was the bogus result of a political vendetta, but he still has way too much baggage in the state of West Virginia, going back 15 or 20 years.
The coal mining families that voted for Trump will not vote for Blankenship.
Gun grabber Joe has got to go!
I have no idea! But to jail he did go, that’s not my idea of a resume enhancer when it comes to running for office. So why is he running when there is a perfectly good GOP candidate in Morrissey. Good question! Because I don’t know!
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Could he be facing new charges?
running for office was always the best defense when ever the clintons were faced with a new set of criminal charges.
it becomes “it’s all about politics”
Good question. The end of the article has a quote from him claiming that, sounds possible
Have no idea if he is facing new charges!
It’s a Quixote like quest, I don’t know what he thinks he can prove!
To WV coal mining families he’s Snidely Whiplash!
Ex Con? He was convicted of a misdemeanor. That is not an Ex Con.
WELP, I was about to say what the everloving hell, but yep, thanks for the clarification.
Now did he deserve to go to jail for those safety violations? I have no idea! But to jail he did go, that’s not my idea of a resume enhancer when it comes to running for office.>>> i’m not defending the guy as i don’t know him but i live in Pennsylvania. a state founded by an ex con.
I remember William Penn doing time for mine safety violations.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.