This thread concerns the candidacy of CEO Don Blankenship for the GOP nomination of Senator from West Virginia, who was convicted of a misdemeanor in connection with a coal mine disaster which killed 20+ miners, and I am glad I can bring it to a positive conclusion. Via Reuters:
[West Virginia] State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey won the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in West Virginia on Tuesday, beating former coal executive Don Blankenship and calming the fears of party leaders who thought the brash ex-convict would spoil their chance to pick up a Senate seat. …
Blankenship had panicked Republican leaders by showing signs of a late surge, but he faded to a third-place finish behind Morrisey and U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins after President Donald Trump intervened to urge voters to reject him. …
Blankenship told supporters in Charleston, West Virginia, that he had no regrets about his campaign and blamed the “establishment” for the loss.
“I think if there was any single factor … it was President Trump’s lack of endorsement,” he said.
Is he saying that Trump is now the establishment? The swamp, so to speak? Forgive my snark!
More seriously, his comment does bring up the question of whether the GOP primary voters had the good sense to reject a former CEO who ignored safety regulations in favor of profits, or if the voters just fell into line at Trump’s command. I have no idea which is a more accurate description of reality.
And will Blankenship’s comments discourage his supporters from coming to the polls this November? Current holder of the seat Senator Manchin (D) is considered to be one of the more vulnerable Democrats, but also one of the more conservative Democrats. Right now, in my mind this is a toss up until we start seeing polls indicating how the West Virginians views the two.
