CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, has received boosts this election season from prominent Republicans.
The political help includes visits from President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., former Fox News anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle (who, along with the president’s eldest son, rallied for Morrisey on Monday) and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
For U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., his support is tied to West Virginia; natives Nick Saban, Bob Huggins and Jerry West starred in an advertisement launched last month supporting the incumbent, and Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams heads a Manchin campaign group focused on veterans and military.
Musician John Ellison recorded a new version of his hit “Some Kind of Wonderful,” titled “Some Kind of Senator.”
“Everybody I’ve had in my race has been true, blue West Virginians through and through,” he said. “We all know who we are, and that’s just the fiber and the fabric of this state. We’re close-knit.”
Manchin spent Sunday and Monday traveling across the state on his motorcycle as part of a final campaign push ahead of Tuesday; the 700-mile trip began Sunday morning at the state Culture Center before wrapping up Monday evening at Manchin’s campaign office in Charleston.
Manchin was not alone on the campaign trail; supporters and fellow candidates, including 2nd District candidate Talley Sergent, joined him at various points of the ride.
“People are energized,” Manchin told the people packed inside his campaign office. “If they go out and vote as eager as they are to be on the side of the road when we come by, we’re in good shape, gang. We’re in good shape.”
Morrisey was on a cross-state “Stand with Trump Tour” Monday, beginning in Beckley before wrapping up in Martinsburg.
Morrisey’s trek came days after President Donald Trump rallied for him and other Republicans at the Huntington Tri-State Airport.
“This election will decide whether we build on the extraordinary prosperity that we’ve unleashed — no one can believe what’s happened — or whether we let the radical Democrats take control of Congress and take a giant wrecking ball to our economy and to our future,” the president said Friday.
Trump has visited West Virginia three times since May to campaign for Morrisey and other Republicans.
Manchin said the visits haven’t gotten to him.
“Even President Trump couldn’t hide and cover-up Morrisey’s record. He’s tried many times, and he can’t do that. I think he knows that,” he said.
In a video corresponding with Trump’s rally, Manchin criticized Morrisey for his involvement in a federal lawsuit on the Affordable Care Act — which could put 800,000 West Virginians with pre-existing conditions at risk of losing insurance coverage — as well as Morrisey’s ties to the lobbying industry and being a “yes” vote for the Republican agenda.
“When this race is over and I’m fortunate enough to win, I’m going to work with everybody. That’s all,” Manchin added. “Work with everybody who wants to help the state of West Virginia.”
According to FiveThirtyEight, Manchin has voted more than 60 percent of the time in favor of the president’s agenda, more than any other Democrat in the chamber.
“The difference is, really when it comes down to it, you’ve got to be able to go to Washington and work with whoever’s there. You can’t just go with the Democrats and say, ‘I’m going to work with the Democrats,'” Manchin told the crowded office. “You’ve got to work with everybody you can to help your state. They’ve got to understand who we are.”
Manchin is plotting a legislative course for when he returns to Washington, the outcome of Tuesday aside; the Joint Select Committee on the Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans, which Manchin serves on, has until the end of the year to come up with a plan to fund the pensions for 1.5 million Americans, including 26,000 West Virginia coal miners.
“I’m working with (Ohio Senator) Rob Portman right now. He understands how important this is,” Manchin said. “We have to get the miners’ (pensions) done first because if the miners’ comes unraveled by 2022, everything comes stumbling.”
Cecil Roberts, president of United Mine Workers of America, joined Manchin in Charleston for his return to the Capitol City.
“I have absolutely no doubt that the coal miners in this country who’ve earned a pension are going to have it because of this man right here,” said Roberts, a Kanawha County native, to applause.
“I am totally convinced that those people in West Virginia and across the United States of America, senator, who have pre-existing injuries and illnesses are going to have the health care they need because of him.”
The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball and POLITICO have the Senate contest between Manchin and Morrisey as leaning Democrat. Manchin’s campaign will be watching the results from Charleston, while the Morrisey team will follow Election Day from Martinsburg.