West Virginia: Morrisey Gaining; Blankenship Still Trying

​Reversing the trend that places Sen. Joe Manchin (D) ahead by double-digit margins, Gravis Marketing released a new survey (8/23-26; 600 WV likely voters) that finds Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) pulling into within six points of the Senator, 47-41%.  Heavy anti-Manchin outside organization advertising has been airing, which likely at least partially explains the tightening campaign.  Additionally, President Trump has already made one appearance in the state for Mr. Morrisey and that, too, is helping the Republican in a state where the President is most popular.
 
Former energy company CEO and convicted felon Don Blankenship, defeated in the West Virginia Senate Republican primary earlier this year, is continuing in his attempt to gain ballot access either as an Independent or minor party nominee for the general election.  His problem: West Virginia, as do many states, has a law that prohibits candidates who lose a primary to run in the associated general election.
 
Yesterday, the West Virginia state Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that denied Blankenship further ballot access.  But, the defeated candidate says, he is still exploring further options.  It doesn’t appear there is any way around the state’s “sore loser law”, meaning that Blankenship will not be on the November ballot.  Additionally, his stated reason for running: to help defeat Republican nominee Patrick Morrisey and not actually win the election for himself, certainly hasn’t been effective in convincing judges to waive the state’s election law.