Jenkins says May 8 vote not about McConnell

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Third District Congressman Evan Jenkins wouldn’t say during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” Friday if he would support Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for reelection to that position if Jenkins himself is elected.

U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va.

“This race is not about Mitch McConnell,” Jenkins said. “Mitch McConnell has not asked me for a vote for him being leader. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Fellow GOP Senate candidate Don Blankenship said Thursday on “Talkline” he would vote against McConnell–indicating he doesn’t believe it would be that difficult to get enough votes to defeat him.

“I don’t think that pitching Mitch is as hard as you might think,” Blankenship said.

Jenkins said Friday Blankenship is a frustrated candidate because he’s currently in third place behind himself and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

“He is simply trying to put something out there to define himself and run against something. I’m running as a proud West Virginian, standing on our West Virginia values,” Jenkins said.

When pressed again on whether he would support McConnell or not Jenkins said, “I don’t know who’s running. Let’s get to that.”

Jenkins also said Friday, Washington Democrats are spending $1 million against him in TV and political mailings because they know he’s the only Republican that can defeat U.S. Senator Joe Manchin in the fall election.

A Fox News poll released earlier this week had Jenkins at 25 percent, Morrisey 21 percent and Blankenship at 16 percent with the undecided vote at 24 percent. Three other candidates had a combined 7 percent.

Jenkins, Morrisey and Blankenship will debate next Tuesday on Fox News.





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