MEDIA MOMENT MINI Midterm Elections
A. The Great Race. Read the excerpt from the news article below. The article was originally published
on Politico.com. Consider the influence media coverage can have in shaping voter's opinions by
answering the questions that follow.
POLITICO
The formerly imprisoned GOP candidate has been attacked heavily by groups aligned with
Poll: Coal baron Blankenship fading in W.Va. Senate primary
Washington Republicans.
By: Alex Isenstad | 04/23/2018 07:26 PM EDT | Updated 04/23/2018 08:50 PM EDT
WHEELING, W.Va. - A new poll out Monday evening shows recently imprisoned coal baron
and Senate hopeful Don Blankenship fading in the Republican primary, amid an avalanche of
establishment attacks aimed at stopping him from winning the nomination.
following the deadly 2010 explosion at his Upper Big Branch Mine, falling far behind his
With the primary two weeks away, the survey shows Blankenship, who spent a year in jail
more mainstream rivals, GOP Rep. Evan Jenkins and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
The poll found Morrisey leading with 24 percent, followed by Jenkins with 20 percent, and
Blankenship trailing with 12 percent. Thirty-nine percent were undecided.
The survey, which was conducted April 17-19 and has a margin of error of 4.9 percentage
points, came as Blankenship squared off against his rivals in a 90-minute debate held at
Wheeling Jesuit University. The candidates spent much of the evening aligning themselves
with President Donald Trump, and beating up on Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
They will also meet on Tuesday, and again next week for a nationally televised debate hosted
by Fox News. [...]
1. What words from the article help you follow the race? Circle them.
2. Underline details that tell you about candidate Don Blakenship.
3. How much did the article tell you about the candidates' political beliefs, positions on the issues, or
leadership skills and qualifications?
4. How might this article influence a voter?
¡CIVICS 2018 Civics, Inc.
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