GOP fears Blankenship's rise means a Roy Moore repeat
by Al Weaver
| May 08, 2018 12:00 AM
National Republicans are worried about Don Blankenship's rise less than 24 hours before polls close in the West Virginia Senate race as they fear a replay of Alabama, where former Judge Roy Moore cost the party a seat nearly five months ago.
Blankenship, a multimillionaire coal executive who was recently in prison in connection with a deadly mining accident, has seen his poll numbers rise to where he is in a dead heat with Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a favorite of conservatives.
This is giving GOP leaders flashbacks to Moore blowing what should have been a slam dunk. Moore lost a Senate seat that had been safely in Republican hands since the 1990s. Blankenship threatens a prime GOP pickup opportunity against incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va.
"It didn't work out very well in Alabama," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who said he is "confident" West Virginia primary voters will make a "good choice."
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/don-blankenship-west-virginia-roy-moore