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PARKERSBURG -- U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney gets as much attention as the man in the moon from Gov. Jim Justice.
The two are announced Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate who hope to replace Democratic incumbent Joe Manchin after the 2024 election.
The Senate campaign for Mooney, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, has criticized Justice, including over issues involving the taxes owed by his companies. Justice was asked during his Wednesday press briefing what he would say to Mooney if Mooney was listening.
"I would be amazed that he could get this briefing from his residence in another state. That's probably what I would say," Justice said. "He travels state to state to try to get elected and some way got elected in West Virginia.
"I pay about as much attention to Alex Mooney as the man in the moon … that's probably appropriate, the man in the moon, the man in the Mooney," Justice said. "So with all that being said, I'm surely not going to drop myself to Alex Mooney's level."
Justice has no problem attacking conservatives like Mooney, but remains silent on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, John Findlay, Mooney's campaign manager, said. "Jim Justice will do anything to dodge explaining his position on important issues, but we will work to ensure the voters know that Justice and Biden are both tax-and-spend liberals who are sending our nation into trillions of dollars of debt."
The West Virginia Poll released last week gives Justice 58% support among Republican respondents to Mooney's 26%.
"He's a desperate man. He's so far behind we can't even see that he's in the race," Justice said. "Nevertheless, let him do whatever he wants to do."
Justice was endorsed Wednesday by Delegate Moore Capito, a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor. Capito released a video.
"Like me, Jim Justice is a lifelong West Virginian," Capito said. "And he's a conservative who likes to get things done."
Capito, who cited Justice's leadership, said he'll be voting for Justice, the video including a photo of him, Justice and Justice's bulldog Babydog.
"At some point in time I probably will endorse a candidate for governor," said Justice, who is in his second of two consecutive terms.
Mooney is supported by Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, which demonstrates Mooney's s appeal "as a strong conservative candidate," Findlay said.
"He's also received endorsements from over 30 West Virginia legislators, the Summers County Republican Executive Committee, Club for Growth, Gun Owners of America, Veterans for America First and just last week the Republican Liberty Caucus," Findlay said. "The momentum is on our side."
Also announcing they will run for the Republican nomination for governor in 2024 were Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Secretary of State Mac Warner. Others are Terri Bradshaw, Alexander Gaaserud, Christopher Miller, Edwin VAnover and Rashida Yost.
Candidates can file as precandidates for purposes of campaign fundraising, but does not commit them to the office. The candidate filing period is in January for the 2024 primary.
The West Virginia Poll showed Moore leading Morrisey by 5 points, 32% to 27% of respondents. Warner had 7%.
"I can say this, that Moore is a very, very qualified man," Justice said.