CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s campaign for U.S. Senate raised nearly $700,000 in the third quarter of 2017.
Morrisey, a Republican, raised approximately $672,000. U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, also a Republican, raised about $220,000 in the same period, according to campaign finance reports.
Morrisey’s campaign calls the figures “a sign of Patrick Morrisey’s growing support” in the 2018 race for Sen. Joe Manchin’s seat. The campaign also said it has $548,000 on hand.
“Jenkins also burned through his entire fundraising haul this quarter – spending $206,000 and netting only $14,000 this quarter,” Morrisey campaign said in a statement. “With his lackluster fundraising and his liberal record of supporting cap-and-trade and Hillary Clinton, Jenkins' campaign is quickly deteriorating.”
Jenkins’ campaign manager Andy Sere countered with other numbers.
“The Jenkins campaign holds an imposing $700,000 cash-on-hand over Patrick Morrisey after raising over $900,000 this year,” Sere told The West Virginia Record. “We are proud that 70 percent of our donors are West Virginia voters, while Morrisey is financing his campaign with dirty cash from the D.C. Swamp and globalist corporations that know he’s for sale.
“Frankly, we expected a 20-year Washington lobbyist like Morrisey to top $1 million this quarter, but even that wouldn’t be enough to hide his record as a 20-year D.C. lobbyist for liberal special interests.”
Morrisey said he’s grateful for the support his campaign is receiving.
“Our conservative message of protecting coal, limiting government, and defending our traditional West Virginia values is resonating across the state and the nation,” he said. “Sen. Manchin has failed the people of West Virginia by siding with Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer one too many times, and voters are clearly hungry for a conservative senator who represents their values.”
In addition to Jenkins and Morrisey, former coal miner Bo Copley has announced plans to run as Republicans for the Senate seat currently occupied by Manchin for the 2018 election. Manchin will face primary competition from environmental activist Paula Jean Swearengin, who already has been endorsed by the Brand New Congress political action committee formed by former staff members and supporters of Bernie Sanders. Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship also has hinted as running as a Republican or an Independent.
