President Donald Trump was returning to West Virginia today, flying in Huntington to rally just ahead of Election Day.
Trump has been crisscrossing the country in support of local Republican candidates. The president has been to West Virginia for rallies three times in recent weeks.
“Hello, West Virginia. What a place.”
He then mentions his 42-point win in 2016. pic.twitter.com/TwWsbc1rS3
— Alex Thomas (@AlexHouseThomas) November 2, 2018
Trump’s approval remains about 60 percent in West Virginia, highest of any state in the country.
In West Virginia, those receiving Trump’s support include Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who is trying to unseat Republican Senator Joe Manchin.
“He’ll always vote for us,” Trump said of Morrisey. “Not for me. For us.”
Morrisey played up Trump’s visit repeatedly during a one-hour debate with Manchin on Thursday evening.
“We have work left to do to win on Tuesday,” Morrisey said during Friday’s rally.
A standing-room-only crowd gathered at a hangar at Huntington’s Tri-State Airport.
Introductory remarks came from Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, as well as from Morrisey.
Carol Miller, a Republican state delegate running for Congress in southern West Virginia, also made introductory remarks to the crowd.
Trump calls @CarolMillerWV and @MorriseyWV “great candidates.”
— Alex Thomas (@AlexHouseThomas) November 2, 2018
So did Gov. Jim Justice, who told those gathered that if Miller’s opponent, Democrat Richard Ojeda, is elected to Congress than Trump will “wipe me out.”
Morrisey and Miller each disembarked Air Force One as it landed at the airport in Huntington a little after 4 p.m. In the background played “Country Roads.”
Manchin’s campaign responded to the by releasing a video critical of Morrisey:
“Nothing can cover up Morrisey’s record of trying to take away coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, gutting Social Security, and lobbying for the opioid industry.”
The rally in Huntington was a blend of topics, including coal, the economy and politics.
Trump mentions Schumer, Pelosi and Waters to boos.
“They will shut down your coal mines, you know that?”
— Alex Thomas (@AlexHouseThomas) November 2, 2018
“Everybody’s watching West Virginia.”
— Alex Thomas (@AlexHouseThomas) November 2, 2018
Trump says the race is tied, which isn’t quite the case (most polls show Manchin leading).
He says the “fake news media” was surprised the other day when he said West Virginia may be surprising.
— Alex Thomas (@AlexHouseThomas) November 2, 2018