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Senator Joe Manchin (D-WVA) pummeled President Donald Trump after cruising to reelection in the Blue Wave that propelled Democrats to victory Tuesday night.
Manchin, one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats leading up to the midterms, defeated Republican West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey despite a substantial push by Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the Mountain State.
That projected Manchin win in WV comes despite a MAJOR effort on the part of the Trump family for Morrisey — Donald… https://t.co/P1mW0Xn82B— Meridith McGraw (@Meridith McGraw) 1541556696.0
Speaking to reporters in Charleson, West Virginia Tuesday evening, Manchin swiped at Trump for not being able to engineer a Republican victory in a state the president carried by more than 40 points in 2016.
Joe Manchin wins. In a state Donald Trump won by 43 points in 2016.— Chris Cillizza (@Chris Cillizza) 1541556614.0
"Let me say that I never expected that this race would be the national race it turned out to be," Manchin said in his victory speech. "I never expected President Trump to come to this state as much as he did, sending Vice President Pence, sending his family, time after time. And you stood tall."
Manchin added:
"What you said, what West Virginia said, loud and clear tonight: 'Mr. President, we want our senator, not your senator.'"
Manchin also slammed Trump's "toxic rhetoric" and urged the president to act as a more unifying figure.
"When I raise my hand and swear to God to uphold the Constitution, that's for everybody. That is for everybody. And we've got to stop this absolute toxic rhetoric that's going on in this country — we have got to stop this toxic rhetoric," he said. "We've got to bring people together. Mr. President, I want you to be a president of the United States, not the divided states."
In an interview with Business Insider following his victory speech, Manchin proudly stated that "no one's ever won in a state where the president had a 42-point spread," emphasizing his state's voters rebuke of Trump.
"I'm not angry because he came here so many times," Manchin said of Trump's kingmaker support of Morrisey. "Why should he be angry that I'm telling the truth? I don't think so."
Manchin, though having drawn scorn from liberals for his vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, still felt that sting on Twitter.
As the lone Senate Democrat to vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Joe Manchin is feeling pretty… https://t.co/FgWtRT2F4X— POLITICO (@POLITICO) 1541557591.0
@politico @PoliticoCharlie He’s not a true Democrat, but we’ll take the lesser of two evils.— Chelsea Thompson (@Chelsea Thompson) 1541557613.0
@politico @HoneyDemForce @PoliticoCharlie why is that so shocking, he votes with Trump.— T London #VetsResistSupportSquadron (@T London #VetsResistSupportSquadron) 1541557930.0
@politico @PoliticoCharlie He voted for Kavanaugh!— saltreselaw (@saltreselaw) 1541557689.0
Still, others were thankful that Manchin survived, as Democrats need all the help they can get.
A win is a win.
@Katie_Kate81 @williamlegate I think he voted (especially with Kavanaugh) to keep his seat, which is disgusting for… https://t.co/bjE4PwGpEx— BitRed (@BitRed) 1541558168.0
@williamlegate Conflicted🤔 but will take it 🙄— Deep State GG 🦋 (@Deep State GG 🦋) 1541556871.0
@williamlegate Won by 40 pts(Trump)… He’s a very good local politician though.. I don’t particularly care for him but hey a win is a win!— Ryan Hill (@Ryan Hill) 1541556784.0
@williamlegate I'm OK with this.— Stevie DoⓂ️enico 🏳️🌈 (@Stevie DoⓂ️enico 🏳️🌈) 1541556884.0
@williamlegate Praise be!— Ofrobert (@Ofrobert) 1541556852.0
Not wasting any time after knocking Trump, Manchin turned his attention to Pence.
Manchin dinged Pence as a "junkyard dog" who submits to Trump's will.
"I know Mike Pence, and he's just, I guess, doing his job," Manchin said. "He's a junkyard dog right now, I guess. He has to go out and do it."