WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump urged Republicans in West Virginia not to make convicted felon and businessman Don Blankenship the nominee for Senate on Tuesday.
Trump tweeted that Republicans have a chance to pick up a crucial seat and urged voters to pick either state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey or Rep. Evan Jenkins to run against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in November.
"Problem is, Don Blankenship, currently running for Senate, can't win the General Election in your State," the president said. "No way!"
Trump also said "Remember Alabama," referring to Democrat Doug Jones' stunning win in the Senate race in that state in December over Republican Roy Moore, who was dogged by allegations of improper relations with underage girls.
Trump defended Moore against those allegations during the special election campaign but said the day after the election that he had endorsed interim Sen. Luther Strange in the primary because he knew Moore couldn't win.
Last week, Trump's eldest son Don Jr. tweeted that West Virginia should oppose Blankenship.
"No more fumbles like Alabama," he said.
Blankenship was criticized after he released an ad calling Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "Cocaine Mitch" and McConnell's in-laws his "China family."
McConnell is married to Trump's Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1961 and are both U.S. citizens.
Blankenship insisted the ad was not racist, saying "races are negro, white caucasian, Hispanic, Asian."
Blankenship was convicted of conspiracy to violate federal mine safety laws after 29 miners were killed in the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine disaster.
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates West Virginia's Senate race Toss-up.
