One of Republicans' biggest targets in the Senate gloated at Trump after they failed to unseat him

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November 7, 2018 4:15 PM

"I’m not angry because he came here so many times," Manchin said of Trump. "Why should he be angry that I’m telling the truth?

Incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin defeated Republican challenger and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey in the West Virginia Senate race on Tuesday.
In his victory speech, Manchin slammed President Donald Trump for not being able to use his power unseat him.
Trump visited the state multiple times to stump for Morrisey, and several other White House officials and Trump family members campaigned against Manchin.

CHARLESTON, West Virginia — Minutes after securing reelection Tuesday night, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin took a harsher tone against President Donald Trump by blasting him for the failure of his Republican challenger and ardent White House ally in West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

Manchin barbed the president for not being able to get Morrisey over the finish line, despite the state having voted for Trump by more than 40 points one election ago.

"Let me say that I never expected that this race would be the national race it turned out to be," he 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."

"What you said. What West Virginia said loud and clear tonight, 'Mr. President, we want our senator, not your senator,'" Manchin added.

Republicans projected to hold on to majority control of the Senate

The incumbent Democrat also condemned "toxic rhetoric" and demanded Trump play a more unifying role.

"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."

After his speech, Manchin told Business Insider that "n

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