A new Triton Polling and Research poll in West Virginia finds Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is vulnerable after his support for the Inflation Reduction Act with 66% having an unfavorable impression of Manchin and just 26% having a favorable impression.
Manchin Eyes Senate Exit
“Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is eyeing a possible exit from the Senate, and his decision could be a significant factor in which party controls the majority in 2021,” The Hill reports..
“In moments of frustration, the centrist senator has gone so far as to tell colleagues he may leave the upper chamber before the end of this Congress, or after the 2020 elections.”
Manchin Pulls Away In West Virginia
A new Gray TV poll in West Virginia finds Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is now 16 percentage points ahead of challenger Patrick Morrisey (R), 52% to 36%.
Also interesting: “Fifty-eight percent of West Virginia voters approve of the job President Trump is doing, while 40% disapprove.”
McConnell Delivers Election Gift to Manchin
“Joe Manchin looked like a solid bet for reelection after he voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. But Mitch McConnell might have sealed the deal,” Politico reports.
“Facing some of the toughest campaigns of their careers, the West Virginia Democrat and his moderate colleagues believe they’ve received an unexpected gift from the Senate GOP leader. In a triumphant post-Kavanaugh media tour last week, the Kentucky Republican waxed about his regret over the missed opportunity to repeal Obamacare and the need to reform entitlement programs to rein in the federal deficit.”
“Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare are vital to West Virginia. And in an interview on Saturday as he prepared for the annual Apple Harvest Parade, Manchin called McConnell’s comments ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and said his Republican opponent, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, would vote to curtail benefits ‘in a heartbeat.'”
Blankenship ‘Endorses’ Former Rival
Former coal company CEO Don Blankenship endorsed his former GOP Senate rival Patrick Morrisey while calling him a “lying” out-of-state drug lobbyist, The Hill reports.
Said Blankenship: “I told the audience I would be voting for Patrick Morrisey because West Virginia and America must have Donald Trump and if its Morrisey that Trump wants I will vote for him. However, when I watch the video it causes me to wonder how our country got to the point that West Virginians have to choose between a lying New Jersey opiate drug lobbyist and a lying supporter of Barrack Obama.”
Joe Manchin Under Fire After Kavanaugh Vote
Associated Press: “A day after Manchin broke with his party on what may be the most consequential vote of the Trump era, the vulnerable Democrat is facing a political firestorm back home. While Republicans — including one of the president’s sons — are on the attack, the most passionate criticism is coming from Manchin’s very own Democratic base, a small but significant portion of the electorate he needs to turn out in force to win re-election next month.”
“A Manchin loss would put his party’s hopes of regaining control of the Senate virtually out of reach.”
Top Democratic Super PAC Backs Away from Bredesen
“One of the top Democratic aligned super PACs says it will no longer consider helping Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen in Tennessee’s Senate race after Bredesen announced his support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court,” the Daily Beast reports.
“The group, Priorities USA Action, also said it would steer clear of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s reelection fight in West Virginia should he vote to confirm Kavanaugh on final passage this Saturday. On Friday, Manchin was the sole Democrat to vote to proceed with the nomination.”
Manchin Holds Lead In West Virginia
A new Gray Television survey in West Virginia shows Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) leading challenger Patrick Morrisey (R) in his re-election race, 46% to 38%.
2 Key Senate Races Move Towards Democrats
The Cook Political Report moves two U.S. Senate race rankings towards the Democrats:
- TX-Sen moves from Lean R to Toss Up
- WV-Sen moves from Toss Up to Lead D
A third race moves towards the Republicans:
- MT-Sen moves from Likely D to Lean D
Jennifer Duffy: “Generally, races in the Toss Up column don’t break down the middle; one party tends to win a majority of them. Over the past 10 cycles, no party has won less than 67 percent of all Toss Up races. In 2004, 2006 and 2014, one party won 89 percent of the races in the Toss Up column. The working theory for this cycle has been that if Democrats end up winning a majority of the Toss Up races, then the political environment proved to be the factor driving the election.”
Manchin Shoots an Anti-Obamacare Lawsuit in New Ad
In a new ad, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) shoots a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act that’s backed by his opponent, playing off his well-known 2010 spot shooting a climate change bill.
Manchin Leads by Eight In West Virginia
A new Metro News/Dominion Post poll in West Virginia finds Sen. Joe Machin (D-WV) leading challenger Patrick Morrissey (R) by eight points in the U.S. Senate race, 46% to 38%.
Manchin Leads In West Virginia
A new Harper Polling (R) survey in West Virginia finds Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) leading challenger Patrick Morrissey (R), 47% to 41%.
Court Denies Blankenship Spot on West Virginia Ballot
“The West Virginia Supreme Court denied former coal company executive Don Blankenship’s bid to get on the ballot this November as a Constitution Party candidate after he lost the Republican primary earlier this year,” Politico reports.
“Blankenship’s effort could have shaken up the battleground race between Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican nominee, siphoning critical votes from Morrisey as he seeks to oust the incumbent.”
The West Virginia Impeachment Could Hurt Joe Manchin
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GOP Strategy to Dislodge Senate Incumbents Emerges
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Blankenship Fights Effort to Keep Him Off Ballot
“Don Blankenship is taking his battle to run for the U.S. Senate to the West Virginia Supreme Court,” the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports.
“According to a petition for a writ of mandamus filed with the state’s high court Thursday, Blankenship and the Constitution Party are challenging West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner’s decision to deny Blankenship’s candidacy papers to run with the party.”
Blankenship’s Third Party Bid Rejected
Don Blankenship’s (R) attempt to run for U.S. Senate as a third-party candidate in West Virginia was denied by West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner.
Warner said the bid would violate the state’s “sore loser” law.
Blankenship Will Try to Get on West Virginia Ballot
“Don Blankenship (R), the former coal baron and convicted felon who finished third in the West Virginia Republican primary in May, is wading back into the state’s U.S. Senate race, this time attempting to file paperwork to run as a member of the Constitution Party,” ABC News reports.
“Blankenship conceded that he does not expect the filing to be certified due to West Virginia’s ‘sore loser’ law that prohibits candidates that lost in a primary to run in the general election, but that he believes his name will be on the ballot in November.”
