I think psychologists call this "projection"

As statewide news reports noted yesterday, a second debate will not take place because the Morrisey campaign failed to meet the necessary deadlines. (See next post down.)

Earlier today, Republican senatorial candidate Patrick Morrisey retweeted this from Nathan Brand:

Why is @JoeManchinWV afraid of statewide televised debates?

Is it because he can't answer for...
📌partnering with Obama to restrict gun rights?
📌his vote for Hillary?
📌Or working in lockstep with Washington liberals to oppose Trump? #WVsen https://t.co/dJ2T5aN8uO

— Nathan Brand (@NateRBrand) September 14, 2018

Yes, despite what has happened, it's obviously Manchin who is afraid of statewide debates and not Morrisey. Project much?

(Note -- Nathan Brand is the Morrisey spokesperson cited in last Saturday's fair-and-balanced Intelligencer article about Manchin's position on the Kavanaugh appointment.)

I think Morrisey's desperation is beginning to show.

What a surprise -- the Wheeling Intelligencer covers/lies for Morrisey's unwillingness to debate

Most West Virginia news mediums that I checked said the same thing -- for whatever reason, Morrisey failed to meet the deadline and the debate was canceled. Our local "newspaper" put a different spin on this, however. On page 2 of this morning's Wheeling Intelligencer, you'll find:

Manchin had agreed to take part in the event. But, though an official in Morrisey’s campaign said the Wheeling event still was being considered, representatives of the newspapers agreed this week to cancel the debate because of time constraints. Lack of time to prepare for the event and plan a site for it were cited.

"Lack of time"? That's simply not true. And it's not that the Intelligencer didn't know better. As the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported yesterday:

“Obviously we’re disappointed that Patrick Morrisey didn’t accept the request to meet with the top journalists in West Virginia, to debate issues with Sen. Manchin of importance to West Virginians,” said Andy Kniceley, publisher of NCWV Media, who worked with [News-Register editor Mike] Myer planning the debate.

When it comes to electing Republicans, Wheeling papers have no shame.