I don’t follow WV politics. What does the guy stand for that might persuade someone to vote for him over the Republican candidate?
Since you asked: Nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Too many people in the southern coal fields remember him from the Upper Big Branch mine accident that killed people.
He’s running to whack Sen. Manchin upside the head (figuratively) without getting sued for slander or libel under the law. Blankenship can do this because he has piles of money & doesn’t care about anything except bashing Manchin.
Mainstream GOP members are caught in the crossfire.
Blankenship hates Manchin. JMO, it’s an excuse for him to run ads blasting Manchin with a bit more leeway on the libel/slander laws.