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Don Blankenship, the controversial Republican candidate for Senate in West Virginia, responded on Thursday to sharp criticism from Donald Trump Jr.
Donald (Don) John TrumpTrump Jr. unlikely to comply with Senate Intel subpoena: report Ted Cruz: There's no need for another subpoena for Donald Trump Jr. McCarthy: GOP-led Senate Intel panel 'wrong' to subpoena Trump Jr. MORE, by blaming "the establishment" for mounting attacks against his campaign.
Donald (Don) John TrumpTrump Jr. unlikely to comply with Senate Intel subpoena: report Ted Cruz: There's no need for another subpoena for Donald Trump Jr. McCarthy: GOP-led Senate Intel panel 'wrong' to subpoena Trump Jr. MORE, by blaming "the establishment" for mounting attacks against his campaign. "The establishment is doing everything they can to keep Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) ManchinTrump court pick confirmed despite no blue slip from Schumer, Gillibrand Overnight Health Care: Trump wants HHS to help Florida with drug imports | Graham calls inaction on drug prices 'unacceptable' | Abortion battles heat up with Kavanaugh on Supreme Court Bipartisan pair of senators urges Barr to defend ObamaCare in court MORE in office," Blankenship said in a statement to CNN, referring to the state's vulnerable Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
Joseph (Joe) ManchinTrump court pick confirmed despite no blue slip from Schumer, Gillibrand Overnight Health Care: Trump wants HHS to help Florida with drug imports | Graham calls inaction on drug prices 'unacceptable' | Abortion battles heat up with Kavanaugh on Supreme Court Bipartisan pair of senators urges Barr to defend ObamaCare in court MORE in office," Blankenship said in a statement to CNN, referring to the state's vulnerable Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. Blankenship, who trails significantly behind his primary opponents, West Virginia Republican Rep. Evan Jenkins
Evan Hollin JenkinsWest Virginia New Members 2019 Republican Carol Miller holds off Democrat in West Virginia House race Trump to fundraise for 3 Republicans running for open seats: report MORE and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, is facing increasing pressure from Washington Republicans who fear that his run could hurt their plans to oust Manchin in November.
Evan Hollin JenkinsWest Virginia New Members 2019 Republican Carol Miller holds off Democrat in West Virginia House race Trump to fundraise for 3 Republicans running for open seats: report MORE and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, is facing increasing pressure from Washington Republicans who fear that his run could hurt their plans to oust Manchin in November.The GOP primary is Tuesday.
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"No other Republican can beat Manchin without my full support, and neither Morrisey nor Jenkins is deserving of my support," Blankenship said in the statement. "West Virginians should be able to decide for themselves who we send to the U.S. Senate."
The defiant remarks come after President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump rips Comey after CNN town hall: 'He brought the FBI down' White House says US, China trade talks to continue Friday Giuliani traveling to Ukraine to push for probes that could be 'very helpful' to Trump MORE's son warned that the GOP doesn't want to see another Alabama in the West Virginia Senate race. The former Republican candidate for Senate in red-state Alabama, Roy Moore
Roy Stewart MooreThe Hill's Morning Report - Lawmakers split over Mueller findings: 'case closed' vs. 'cover-up' Roy Moore 'seriously considering' another Senate bid Judge delivers win for Sacha Baron Cohen in Roy Moore defamation lawsuit proceedings MORE, lost the general election to a Democrat amid allegations of past sexual misconduct.
Donald John TrumpTrump rips Comey after CNN town hall: 'He brought the FBI down' White House says US, China trade talks to continue Friday Giuliani traveling to Ukraine to push for probes that could be 'very helpful' to Trump MORE's son warned that the GOP doesn't want to see another Alabama in the West Virginia Senate race. The former Republican candidate for Senate in red-state Alabama, Roy MooreRoy Stewart MooreThe Hill's Morning Report - Lawmakers split over Mueller findings: 'case closed' vs. 'cover-up' Roy Moore 'seriously considering' another Senate bid Judge delivers win for Sacha Baron Cohen in Roy Moore defamation lawsuit proceedings MORE, lost the general election to a Democrat amid allegations of past sexual misconduct. "I hate to lose. So I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask the people of West Virginia to make a wise decision and reject Blankenship! No more fumbles like Alabama," Donald Jr. posted on Twitter on Thursday. "We need to win in November."
Blankenship, a former executive at coal company Massey Energy who spent a year in prison, is running as an outsider and says he is the only candidate in the race able to help the president "drain the swamp." He has also feuded with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump tells Congress to 'keep working' on disaster aid bill Warner: Campaigns should start reporting foreign contacts to FBI Overnight Health Care: Trump urges Congress to take action on surprise medical bills | New bipartisan drug pricing bill introduced | Trump gambles in push for drug import proposal MORE (R-Ky.).
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump tells Congress to 'keep working' on disaster aid bill Warner: Campaigns should start reporting foreign contacts to FBI Overnight Health Care: Trump urges Congress to take action on surprise medical bills | New bipartisan drug pricing bill introduced | Trump gambles in push for drug import proposal MORE (R-Ky.).Trump Jr. responded to Blankenship by saying, "ha!"
"Now I’m establishment?" he tweeted. "No, I’m realistic & I know the first thing Manchin will do is run ads featuring the families of those 29 miners killed due to actions that sent you to prison. Can’t win the general... you should know that & if others in the GOP won’t say it, I will."
Ha, now I’m establishment? No, I’m realistic & I know the first thing Manchin will do is run ads featuring the families of those 29 miners killed due to actions that sent you to prison. Can’t win the general... you should know that & if others in the GOP won’t say it, I will. https://t.co/3dBmoVrMF1
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 3, 2018
Blankenship is also under fire from a conservative group tied to Washington Republicans that has spent hundreds of thousands on attack ads against him.
Democrats have funneled money into a series of ads in West Virginia against Jenkins and Morissey, in a strategy Trump Jr. and others see as as benefiting Blankenship in order to set up Republicans for failure in the general election.
If the democrats are doing this they know he’s more beatable that the other options. Don’t fall for it West Virginia. Not worth the risk. #wv ##wvpol
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 3, 2018
Democratic PAC escalates spending to sway GOP primary against Evan Jenkins, for Don Blankenship https://t.co/g7bnH5rIhX.
