Blankenship blames 'the establishment' after Trump Jr. criticism

Don Blankenship, the controversial Republican candidate for Senate in West Virginia, responded on Thursday to sharp criticism from Donald Trump Jr.Don John TrumpTrump Jr. calls elderly supporter who was assaulted Trump Jr. hits Howard Stern for going ‘establishment,’ ‘acting like Hillary’ Trump Jr., GOP senator lash out at Facebook for taking down protest pages on stay-at-home orders MORE, by blaming “the establishment” for mounting attacks against his campaign.  “The establishment is doing everything they can to keep Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinTrump administration seeks to use global aid for nuclear projects Shelley Moore Capito wins Senate primary West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice wins GOP gubernatorial primary MORE in office,” Blankenship said in a statement to CNN, referring to the state’s vulnerable Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.  Blankenship, who trails significantly behind his primary opponents, West Virginia Republican Rep. Evan JenkinsEvan Hollin JenkinsWest Virginia New Members 2019 Republican Carol Miller holds off Democrat in West Virginia House race Trump to fundraise for 3 Republicans running for open seats: report MORE and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, is facing increasing pressure from Washington Republicans who fear that his run could hurt their plans to oust Manchin in November. The GOP primary is Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENT “No other Republican can beat Manchin without my full support, and neither Morrisey nor Jenkins is deserving of my support,” Blankenship said in the statement. “West Virginians should be able to decide for themselves who we send to the U.S. Senate.” The defiant remarks come after President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s son warned that the GOP doesn’t want to see another Alabama in the West Virginia Senate race. The former Republican candidate for Senate in red-state Alabama, Roy MooreRoy Stewart MooreSessions goes after Tuberville’s coaching record in challenging him to debate The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip Sessions fires back at Trump over recusal: ‘I did my duty & you’re damn fortunate I did” MORE, lost the general election to a Democrat amid allegations of past sexual misconduct.  “I hate to lose. So I’m gonna go out on a limb here and ask the people of West Virginia to make a wise decision and reject Blankenship! No more fumbles like Alabama,” Donald Jr. posted on Twitter on Thursday. “We need to win in November.” Blankenship, a former executive at coal company Massey Energy who spent a year in prison, is running as an outsider and says he is the only candidate in the race able to help the president “drain the swamp.” He has also feuded with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.). Trump Jr. responded to Blankenship by saying, “ha!” “Now I’m establishment?” he tweeted. “No, I’m realistic & I know the first thing Manchin will do is run ads featuring the families of those 29 miners killed due to actions that sent you to prison. Can’t win the general… you should know that & if others in the GOP won’t say it, I will.”

Blankenship is also under fire from a conservative group tied to Washington Republicans that has spent hundreds of thousands on attack ads against him.  Democrats have funneled money into a series of ads in West Virginia against Jenkins and Morissey, in a strategy Trump Jr. and others see as as benefiting Blankenship in order to set up Republicans for failure in the general election.