'My Father-In-Law Is An American': McConnell Dismisses 'Wealthy China-Person' Jab from WV GOP Candidate

Blankenship on 'Cocaine Mitch' Backlash: 'Joe Manchin Has So Much More Baggage'

Former Bush adviser Karl Rove ripped West Virginia Republican senatorial primary contender Don Blankenship as a "bigot" and a "racist," adding that he would doom the general election for the GOP.

Blankenship, a former coal baron who spent a year in jail after the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, called the Senate majority leader "Cocaine Mitch" McConnell, and used racially-charged language to refer to the Kentucky senator's in-laws.

"Ditch Cocaine Mitch for the sake of the kids," Blankenship said in a new campaign ad, after he previously ripped McConnell's father-in-law James Si-Cheng Chao as a "wealthy China person."

TONIGHT: The Showdown between McConnell and Blankenship, who's calling the Leader "Cocaine Mitch" and referring to Mitch's family as "China People" — Martha MacCallum (@marthamaccallum) May 4, 2018

Rove called Blankenship a "bigot" and a "moron" and said that if he wins Tuesday's Republican senatorial primary, the GOP can "kiss our chances goodbye of winning West Virginia."

Blankenship, along with Rep. Evan Jenkins of Huntington and State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, seek to unseat incumbent Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin III.

Rove added a disclosure that he fully supports contender Jenkins, who he said he has known for some time and credited with beating 19-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Nick Joe Rahall to take his current seat.

Rove said that in his attempt to smear McConnell, Blankenship "doesn't even understand the political reality of the world."

Blankenship claimed Chao has strong business ties to China, but Rove said the 90-year-old's company -- Foremost Group -- is an American shipping firm based in New York City.

He also pointed out the Chaos are Taiwanese, as Taiwan broke away from China in 1949 and is recognized as independent by the United States -- while China sees it yet as one of its provinces.

Conservative radio host Tammy Bruce remarked that Blankenship's rhetoric and advertisements make her want to defend the more establishment-oriented McConnell.

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