Trump picks up more support in West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Donald Trump picked up more support in West Virginia Thursday.

The West Virginia Coal Association endorsed Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president while West Virginia Second District Congressman Alex Mooney also said he would support Trump in the November General Election.

The coal association members voted unanimously to back Trump at a Thursday meeting in Charleston.

“Donald Trump has been firm and clear throughout his campaign in his commitment to rebuild America’s basic industries, the industries that made this country great, such as coal, steel and manufacturing” said Bill Raney, WVCA president, in a prepared statement. “Trump has said he will reverse the Democratic regulatory assault that has cost the coal industry more than 40 percent of our production and jobs since 2008.”

Raney said Hillary Clinton would “double-down on the job killing Obama policies.”

Mooney, formerly a Ted Cruz supporter, said he would back his party’s nominee.

“Hillary Clinton and her policies on coal, the Second Amendment and other issues are very much against where West Virginians stand so that’s where I’m going to stand,” Mooney said Thursday on MetroNews Talkline.

Trump has done a good job connecting with grassroots voters, Mooney said.

“He’s certainly come out strong on the immigration issue and other issues. There are just a lot of folks who are ready for a change,” Mooney said.