Tonight's primaries could prove the Trump takeover of the GOP is totally complete By Chris Cillizza

[mystery-ak]

Tonight's primaries could prove the Trump takeover of the GOP is totally complete

By Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large

Updated 1:44 PM ET, Tue May 8, 2018

Washington (CNN)Today marks the first major primary day of the 2018 elections, with four states -- North Carolina, Indiana, West Virginia and Ohio -- voting. There are no two people who love elections more than me and CNN resident big brain Harry Enten.

So we spent this morning exchanging emails about Don Blankenship, the vagaries of public polling, why Harry thinks West Virginia is a fascinating state and why today might tell us just how much the GOP is Donald Trump's party now.

Our conversation -- raw and uncut! -- is below.

Cillizza: Happy Primary Day!

I love these days. Democracy in action! Voters voting!

There are four states -- West Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana and Ohio -- with primaries today.

 My favorite part about that quartet is the latest that polls close in any of the four is 7:30 pm ET. (I need my beauty sleep to maintain my good looks, OK?)

I want to start in West Virginia. And with the only question anyone cares about: Can ex-con/racist/coal mine owner Don Blankenship actually win?

My answer: Yes. In fact I think he is a slight favorite over Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. Blankenship has outspent the other two on TV -- being a coal mine owner is a lucrative gig -- and is the most "outsider" of the three candidates.

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https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/08/politics/west-virginia-indiana-primary/index.html

[Cyber Liberty]

Or not.

[TomSea]

CNN, hmmm. I'll just say, I trust almost always what Rush says, some of the others, not so sure about.

[Cyber Liberty]

CNN, hmmm. I'll just say, I trust almost always what Rush says, some of the others, not so sure about.

I like Rush too.  I don't hear him as much as I used to (work hours have changed), but when I did listen I'd say I agreed with him far more than just about anybody else.

[mountaineer]

I want to start in West Virginia. And with the only question anyone cares about: Can ex-con/racist/coal mine owner Don Blankenship actually win?

My answer: Yes. In fact I think he is a slight favorite over Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. Blankenship has outspent the other two on TV -- being a coal mine owner is a lucrative gig -- and is the most "outsider" of the three candidates.

So far, it looks like Blankenship will come in third. Who is this Cillizza, and why does he think he knows anything about W.Va. voters?

[Hoodat]

Looks like Mike Braun will win the Indiana primary.  Pat Morrisey is leading in WV.  Blankenship is in 3rd place.

[mountaineer]

Feel free to post primary results on the Primaries thread.

[Emjay]

Or not.

@Cyber Liberty   With Blankenship's ugly history and his goofy looks, who would vote for him?

I guess we'll find out.

[Cyber Liberty]

@Cyber Liberty   With Blankenship's ugly history and his goofy looks, who would vote for him?

I guess we'll find out.

That guy came in third at best...so even if it's a state that requires a run-off, he's out.  Don't know if WV has a "Sore Loser" law that would prevent his running as a write in.

[Frank Cannon]

That guy came in third at best...so even if it's a state that requires a run-off, he's out.  Don't know if WV has a "Sore Loser" law that would prevent his running as a write in.

No run off. Morrisey won that pretty solid.

[RoosGirl]

No run off. Morrisey won that pretty solid.

I really liked him in The Smiths.

! No longer available

[Frank Cannon]

I really liked him in The Smiths.

! No longer available

Yeah, but when he went off on his own he got kooky and sucky.

[RoosGirl]

Yeah, but when he went off on his own he got kooky and sucky.

Don't think it took him going off on his own for him to get kooky.

[Frank Cannon]

Don't think it took him going off on his own for him to get kooky.

Was it getting into West Virginia politics?

[RoosGirl]

Was it getting into West Virginia politics?

Happens every time.

[Frank Cannon]

Happens every time.

I heard just driving through WV can effect people negatively.

[mountaineer]

I heard just driving through WV can effect people negatively.

Just the opposite.


I'm amused that the "I hate flyover country" news media got it so wrong, they were just convinced that Blankenship had the ignorant hillbilly vote locked up.

[RoosGirl]

I heard just driving through WV can effect people negatively.

I heard WV was almost heaven. They have the Blue Ridge mountains  and the Shenandoah River. Plus, life is old there. Older than the trees, but younger than the mountains.

[mountaineer]

John Denver didn't know much about geography, but he got the "almost heaven" part right.

[Jazzhead]

I heard WV was almost heaven. They have the Blue Ridge mountains  and the Shenandoah River. Plus, life is old there. Older than the trees, but younger than the mountains.

 

[RoosGirl]

John Denver didn't know much about geography, but he got the "almost heaven" part right.

Yeah, the geography part should be no big surprise since he went from something like Deutchendorf to Denver. 

[mountaineer]

Yeah, the geography part should be no big surprise since he went from something like Deutchendorf to Denver. 

Isn't Deutchendorf in Iowa?

[Hoodat]

I heard WV was almost heaven. They have the Blue Ridge mountains  and the Shenandoah River. Plus, life is old there. Older than the trees, but younger than the mountains.

No Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia.  The Shenandoah River barely touches the state before dumping into the Potomac.  As someone who grew up at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the South River (South Fork of the Shenandoah), that song has always bugged me.

[skeeter]

John Denver didn't know much about geography, but he got the "almost heaven" part right.

As far as his flying skills were concerned 'almost' only counted with horseshoes and hand grenades.

[mountaineer]

No Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia.  The Shenandoah River barely touches the state before dumping into the Potomac.  As someone who grew up at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the South River (South Fork of the Shenandoah), that song has always bugged me.

It bugs me, too. Every time the spectators at a WVU football game sing it, I try to correct the bad geography of it!