As the May 8 primary approaches, the Republican contest has devolved into a fight over which candidate is the most conservative as concerns grow that the party might be on its way to nominating the least electable candidate.
Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and three minor candidates are vying for the nomination. When the primary started, Morrisey set out to establish himself as the Trump conservative in the race and attacked Jenkins as the unacceptable “liberal.” Jenkins touted his own conservative credentials, pointing to his congressional record. Then there is Blankenship, who initially seemed to be running to avenge his conviction on a misdemeanor that earned him a year in federal prison. More recently, he has become a more serious candidate, portraying himself as the conservative outsider and labeling both Morrisey and Jenkins as part of the ‘swamp.”
While Blankenship has personal wealth that he has used to fuel his campaign, he is a problematic general election candidate. That he has been on the air longer than any other candidate and
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