Ex-Mine Executive (And Ex-Con) Reportedly Will Run Against Joe Manchin In West Virginia

[question everything]

Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship wants to make the jump from prison to the Senate.

Blankenship was convicted of conspiring to violate mine safety and served a year in prison for his role in failing to prevent an accident at Massey’s Upper Big Branch Mine that killed 29 people in 2010. He was released from prison last May — and has now decided to run against a longtime foe, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), according to WHCS TV.

The former mine executive has remained unrepentant for his role in the accident, instead blaming federal regulators, while attacking Manchin for how he handled the explosion when he was governor.

Blankenship has been aggressively critical of Manchin for years, and last month put out a TV ad accusing Manchin of having “blood on his hands” — a line Manchin used about Blankenship during the trial.

Blankenship, an extremely wealthy self-funder, has long been a major player in West Virginia GOP politics. But given his conviction, he’s far from the favorite to face Manchin — Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-WV) and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey (R) are already in the race.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/ex-mine-executive-and-ex-con-reportedly-will-run-against-joe-manchin-in-west-virginia

[dembotoz]

1. Nice the gop candidate comes preconvicted

Save time and money

[Sneederbunk]

5. +1

[spanone]

2. trump has set the bar below ground

[ornotna]

3. of course

That way his fellow republicans can slither over it with ease.

[rogue emissary]

4. He'll probably primary Manchin and could beat him.

Essential he'll do the same thing the current West Virginia governor did last year.

[question everything]

7. Not if he runs as a Republican and Manchin remains a Democrat

he cannot primary challenge him. But stranger things have happened.

[rogue emissary]

8. It's happened before.

Since this article points out at least two Republicans that are considered likely to run against Manchin. Blankenship would be smart to switch parties and primary Manchin it's a win-win for Blankenship.

We don't have any rules stopping it and it worked for Jim Justice. I don't see it stopping Blankenship.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Justice

In 2015, Justice switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party and announced his candidacy for Governor in the 2016 election. He ran as a Democrat and defeated the Republican nominee, Bill Cole. Less than seven months after taking office, Justice switched back to the Republican Party the day after announcing his plans at a Donald Trump rally in the state.

[question everything]

9. Right. And even closer to "home" Sanders runs as a Democrat in Vermont primaries

and then switched to independent.

Was reported on these pages.

[dalton99a]

6. Child molesters and convicted felons make the best Republican senators