WV-SEN 2018: Haunted Manchin

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Governor Jim Justice (R-WV) says he supports Joe Manchin.

http://wvmetronews.com/2017/09/20/governor-justice-now-republican-tells-republicans-he-supports-manchins-senate-bid/

WOOHOO!!! BIPARTISAN SUPPORT!!! GO JOE!!!

[I’m not Stu]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

[BuckeyeNut]

Governor Jim Justice (R-WV) says he supports Joe Manchin.

http://wvmetronews.com/2017/09/20/governor-justice-now-republican-tells-republicans-he-supports-manchins-senate-bid/

Goddamn RINO.

Don't take the Lord's name in vain.

Goddamn blasphemy.

[McGovernForPrez]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

He should've endorsed Jenkins. He's definitely the more Trumpian candidate.

[KingSweden]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

Odd. Jenkins strikes me as the "Trumpier" candidate being an ex-Dem and all

[RINO Tom]

Did anyone actually read the article? He said he was close friends with Joe Manchin, had been for 20 years, and was 'going to go off of what Donald Trump did' while simultaneously praising both Jenkins and Morrissey. The guy switched parties (not brains or beliefs) six weeks ago.

So no, he neither indicated he was supporting Manchin not did he indicate an endorsement. And I doubt he will lose or even be seriously challenged in a primary three years down the line, given how close he is with Trump and how popular Trump is there.

History says that politicians who switch parties tend to magically switch both brains AND beliefs.

[SATW]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

Odd. Jenkins strikes me as the "Trumpier" candidate being an ex-Dem and all

Jenkins is more establishment, regardless of his policies or party history.

[Heisenberg]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

Odd. Jenkins strikes me as the "Trumpier" candidate being an ex-Dem and all

Jenkins is more establishment, regardless of his policies or party history.

Right, but Jenkins is known to be populist on the issues, and that, and his status as a former Dem plays really well in WV. Saying "I'm more conservative" will NOT help in a WV primary. Also, Morrisey is a former lobbyist, ran for Congress in NJ in 2000, and used to work for Christine Todd Whitman, a VERY liberal Republican. I'd like to see what his policies are. Maybe he's evolved (especially since he's picked up Bannon's endorsement). We'll see, but I think Jenkins is more electable, and I'm sticking with him, at least for now.

[SATW]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

Odd. Jenkins strikes me as the "Trumpier" candidate being an ex-Dem and all

Jenkins is more establishment, regardless of his policies or party history.

Right, but Jenkins is known to be populist on the issues, and that, and his status as a former Dem plays really well in WV. Saying "I'm more conservative" will NOT help in a WV primary. Also, Morrisey is a former lobbyist, ran for Congress in NJ in 2000, and used to work for Christine Todd Whitman, a VERY liberal Republican. I'd like to see what his policies are. Maybe he's evolved (especially since he's picked up Bannon's endorsement). We'll see, but I think Jenkins is more electable, and I'm sticking with him, at least for now.

I'm sticking with Jenkins the entire way. For many of the reasons you've stated. I was just stating that being more populist doesn't automatically make one a Trumpist or non-establishment.

At least that's how Bannon views it.

[RINO Tom]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

Odd. Jenkins strikes me as the "Trumpier" candidate being an ex-Dem and all

Jenkins is more establishment, regardless of his policies or party history.

Right, but Jenkins is known to be populist on the issues, and that, and his status as a former Dem plays really well in WV. Saying "I'm more conservative" will NOT help in a WV primary. Also, Morrisey is a former lobbyist, ran for Congress in NJ in 2000, and used to work for Christine Todd Whitman, a VERY liberal Republican. I'd like to see what his policies are. Maybe he's evolved (especially since he's picked up Bannon's endorsement). We'll see, but I think Jenkins is more electable, and I'm sticking with him, at least for now.

A huge chunk of the people that'd appeal to are just simply not Republicans and will have zero say in the primary, though.  That's not some comment on party realignment or what I want the GOP, it's the simple fact that there are still way, way more registered Democrats in this closed primary state, and the majority of people you described are still Democrats.  WV's GOP primary electorate arguably resembles a GOP of the 1990s as much as it does Trump's voter base...

[I’m not Stu]

With Bannon-endorsed Roy Moore winning in AL, will Morrisey win in WV?

[windjammer]

With Bannon-endorsed Roy Moore winning in AL, will Morrisey win in WV?

He can win but I doubt Bannon would be the factor.

[Cactus Jack]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

Odd. Jenkins strikes me as the "Trumpier" candidate being an ex-Dem and all

Could be that Bannon has taken it upon himself to pull a reverse McCain and work against Trump from the far right.

[PragmaticPopulist]

I agree that it looks odd at first glance when looking at Bannon's endorsement of Morrissey over Jenkins. While I still think it would make more sense if Bannon supported Jenkins, he might have chose Morrissey because Jenkins has become a "Washington creature".

All that said, I think Jenkins would be the stronger general election candidate. He's from the traditionally most Democratic region of the state, which would cut into Manchin's coalition significantly. Maybe Bannon isn't this mastermind we think he is.

[Kamala]

I feel like Bannon just looks at a race and choose the worst candidate to support.

[I’m not Stu]

Who wins? Steve Bannon endorses Morrisey. The establishment supports Jenkins.

[Bidenworth2020]

morrisey who is the worse candidates

[PoliticalJunkie23]

Morrisey. He'll brand himself as anti establishment and worship Trump a bit. That should be good enough for a Republican primary in a deep red state.

[Dr. Arch]

Morrisey. He'll brand himself as anti establishment and worship Trump a bit. That should be good enough for a Republican primary in a deep red state.

The Republican standards are so low, they're laughable and pathetic.

[Bidenworth2020]

discuss.

if manchin decides to retire, could he win?

[NewYorkExpress]

It's plausible, but unlikely. West Virginia is really Republican.

Still, if Mooney ends up as the nominee, or if Moore Capito retires in 2020, or is defeated in a primary...it's doable.

[I’m not Stu]

Tomblin could win if a joke like Mooney or Raese is nominated because Moore-Capito retires or gets primaried, especially if Republican Gov. Justice endorses Tomblin.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Worth a shot, but he's getting old.

[MT Treasurer]

Morrisey led Jenkins in mid-October poll commissioned by 35th PAC

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[Maxwell]

Breaking news: Steve Bannon endorses Patrick Morrisey.

Odd. Jenkins strikes me as the "Trumpier" candidate being an ex-Dem and all

Theory - Bannon is just a moron who picks the trollier candidate every single time.