Manchin says ‘if character means anything, you can’t vote for Ken Paxton’

Former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) took aim at Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) on Sunday, deriding his “character.”

During an interview with NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt on “The Hill Sunday,” Manchin was asked about Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.

“I don’t know that young man and things he’s said I’m discouraged about, but I can tell you, if character means anything, you can’t vote for Ken Paxton, if character means anything, because he has none,” Manchin said. “So, you have a situation there.”

While Democrats usually face electoral struggles in the Lone Star State, Paxton comes with notable baggage. He previously faced impeachment in the Texas House on corruption charges before he was later acquitted in the Texas Senate three years ago.

In a recent poll, Talarico had a slight lead over Paxton. The NBC 5 Dallas/Telemundo Station Group survey found that 46 percent of registered voter respondents supported Talarico, while 43 percent backed Paxton.

The national political environment has also been recently rough for the GOP, with President Trump’s approval rating recently slumping, the unpopular war in Iran nearing the seven-month mark, widespread concerns about the cost of living and Republicans falling behind Democrats on key issues like immigration and health care in recent polling.

According to a polling average from Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s approval rating on Sunday evening was sitting at 38.8 percent, with his disapproval rating at 59.6 percent.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the Texas Senate race as a “toss up.”

The Hill has reached out to Paxton’s campaign for comment.