Rep. Evan Jenkins: Joe Manchin's 'Time Is Up' in Office

Sen. Joe Manchin is not right for West Virginia and doesn't represent its citizens' values, Rep. Evan Jenkins, who is campaigning to defeat the veteran lawmaker, claimed Friday, the day after President Donald Trump lambasted the senator during a roundtable event in his own state. 

"Let's not forget that Joe Manchin campaigned hard for Hillary Clinton just a month out of the general election," Jenkins told Fox News' "Fox & Friends."

"We know that Joe Manchin's time is up. He has not been supporting President [Donald] Trump. He voted against the tax cuts. Voted against fixes for our healthcare system."

Instead, he said, Manchin has "really become 'Washington Joe'" through his votes that align with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and other key Democrats.

"He has an almost 85 percent voting record with [Sen.] Elizabeth Warren," he continued. "He is not right for West Virginia. He doesn't represent our values."

Both Jenkins and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who is also running for the GOP nomination, were at Trump's roundtable Thursday, but the third candidate, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship was not present.

Blankenship served a year in prison for his role in the deadly 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, which claimed 29 lives. Thursday was the disaster's anniversary.

"Yes, Don Blankenship just got out of federal prison, serving a conviction following the tragic disaster of UBB, 29 brave West Virginia coal miners lost their lives," said Jenkins. "Yesterday, tragically, was a memorial event for that, the anniversary.

"So, there is a clear choice, Don Blankenship, has used his checkbook to propel himself into second place for the U.S. Senate nomination and the Republican Party."

Jenkins noted he is leading in the polls and it's a "clear choice between me and Joe Manchin. It's an opportunity to elect, nominate somebody in the primary who can actually beat Joe Manchin. "

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