Yes, it’s going to get nasty

One of the first ads from the Alex Mooney camp is very similar to the type of attack ad that he used last year in his primary battle against David McKinley. Here is the Club for Growth’s ad:

Club for Growth is starting to advertise against Gov. Jim Justice in the #WVSen GOP primary. The anti-tax group is supporting Rep. Alex Mooney.

The Club has stated it will spend $10 million on Mooney but this buy is just $10,000 so far.

Ad targets Justice's coal company. pic.twitter.com/OmcqkWWG4D

— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) May 1, 2023

I don’t remember Mooney saying anything about his own record in last year’s contest other than he was “a proven conservative.” (Whatever that is.) I doubt that he will do anything different in this campaign. (What would he run on? Taking us back to the gold standard?) Attacking Justice would seem to be his only campaign course.

A curious take from Fox News

Monday’s headline on the Fox news site suggests some hypocrisy on Mooney’s part:

WV Senate race off to blazing start as candidate bashes new rival he once praised: 'Can't be trusted'

The article contrasts Mooney’s current campaign criticisms of Justice with his earlier praise for Justice’s handling of the covid crisis. Interesting. There certainly are a number of ways that Fox could approach this campaign. That they chose, in one of their first posts, to point to Mooney contradicting his earlier comments about Justice may suggest that Fox may be taking sides.

Justice with early lead in poll

From Coefficient Polls:

2024 West Virginia Senate:

Republican Primary (753 LV):
Justice 45% (+28)
Mooney 17%
Undecided 38%
.
General Election (974 LV):
Justice (R) 43% (+14)
Manchin (D-inc) 29%
Undecided 28%

.@coefficientpoll, 4/24-25https://t.co/QI1sqW9bce

— Political Polls (@Politics_Polls) May 3, 2023

(Note the Justice/Manchin results.)

Speaking of Manchin

Praised by Newt Gingrich:

Sen. Joe Manchin is showing outstanding leadership in the Senate by calling on President Biden to “come to the table” and negotiate with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on a compromise to raise the debt ceiling.https://t.co/MLBqIK2AHA

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) May 2, 2023

Aiding the Republicans:

Feinstein’s indefinite absence makes Joe Manchin the decisive vote again. This Republican-led measure just passed by a single vote. https://t.co/UzXc6VvkKM

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 26, 2023

And, perhaps, totally abandoning the Democrats?

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) sparked speculation that he may leave the Democrat party ahead of 2024, amid his latest comments about having a close relationship with “No Labels.” https://t.co/PvB9jyJjzs

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 3, 2023

The final word goes to Alex Mooney:

West Virginia needs Alex Mooney in the U.S. Senate to defend the values that are under attack by @JoeManchinWV and the radical Left. Help support our campaign: https://t.co/IejX2rcrrl

— Alex Mooney (@MooneyforWV) May 3, 2023

Yes, because when I think of the "radical Left" the first person that comes to mind is Joe Manchin!