MORGANTOWN — Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin and his Republican challenger state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey both expressed confidence in their performance during their one-and-only debate, hosted by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association.
Reflecting the contentious nature of the debate itself, their assessment consisted largely of criticism of the other candidate.
“We’ve got the differences out, I think,” Manchin said. “You have a person who very clearly wants to be a yes man in Washington. Basically he came from the swamp and wants to return to the swamp. … I think it showed the differences. And I think that basically he’s running a campaign on everybody else but himself.”
Morrisey was able to summarize his major talking points in a single sentence.
“I think it went very well,” he said. “Voters have a chance to see the difference between a dishonest Washington liberal in Joe Manchin – someone whose vision of the world would have Hillary Clinton in charge – versus a conservative fighter in Patrick Morrisey, who strongly supports the Trump agenda.”
On the topic of going beyond finger-pointing to get their own message across, both also expressed confidence.
Manchin said West Virginia voters know him. “The trust is there. They know I’m going to do everything I can. It’s about West Virginia. It’s always been about West Virginia.”
He’s going to protect health care for the 800,000 who gained Medicaid coverage and protect those with pre-existing conditions he said. “I’ve never been partisan. I’m the most centrist person in Washington on any side of the aisle. “But we never blame people. Here you’ve got to be ‘What tribe are you in?’ I belong to the American tribe. My branch is the West Virginia branch.”
Morrisey said he’s pro-life, pro Second Amendment and he fought Obama’s anti-coal agenda in court. “The voters have a choice on Tuesday between those two different visions. … I think it’s important that people understand what candidates are all about. … I’m glad we had the debate.”
Both will keep campaigning until the polls close on Tuesday, they said.
Manchin is planning a “Take Me Home Ride” motorcycle tour of the state on Sunday and Monday.
Morrisey will be basking in the praise of President Trump at a Trump rally in Huntington today. “He’s the difference maker that’s going to help push me over the top. I feel very good that this president’s going to focus on my support of him.”
On other topics, Manchin defended his vote for Supreme Court Justice Brent Kavanaugh.
I think basically people understand I did my job.” He looked at all the facts, and was the only Democrat to vote yes. “It wasn’t a political decision.”
Morrisey dismissed news that Senate Leadership Fund – a Republican super PAC – chose to withdraw funding for pro-Morrisey broadcast ads in West Virginia. It had spent $7 million here since Labor Day, but PAC leaders told the Washington Post on Thursday those ads are wrapping up.
“I think we have a tremendous amount of support as we get to the stretch run,” Morrisey said. That includes Trump. “He knows that we’re literally dead even in the polls. We’re poised to win this thing.”
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