WV-Sen: Gun-toting Joe Manchin fires off pro-Obamacare ad that shoots down lawsuit

Gun-toting West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) released a new ad Monday that shows him shooting at the Obamacare lawsuit backed by his Republican challenger, Patrick Morrisey.

The ad plays on Manchin's 2010 ad that showed him shooting at a climate change bill. Manchin has taken up the 20-state GOP lawsuit against Obamacare as a weapon against Morrisey, the state attorney general. Morrisey has said he would like to see the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional and overturned.

A judge in Fort Worth, Texas, began hearing oral arguments in the Republican-led lawsuit against Obamacare last week.

Manchin's ad begins with a flashback to his popular 2010 ad.

"Hey, I haven't changed. I might be a few years older but I'll still take on anyone who messes with West Virginia," Manchin said in the ad. "Now, the threat is Patrick Morrisey's lawsuit to take away health care from people with pre-existing conditions."

"He is just dead wrong and that ain't gonna happen," he continued.

What did Morrisey say?

Morrisey's campaign stated in a news release that the senator's new ad was an effort to cover up Manchin's "liberal record of failing to protect the Second Amendment."

"West Virginia has been hurt by lying liberal Joe Manchin putting the interest of Washington liberals ahead of the health care and gun rights of West Virginians," Nathan Brand, Morrisey campaign spokesman, said in a news release. "Joe Manchin has a 'D' rating from the NRA, and voted against President Trump's efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare. Lying liberal Joe has been wrong for West Virginia."

The National Rifle Association recently released an ad that emphasized Manchin's D-rating with the organization. The group endorsed the senator in 2012, but his rating has slipped since 2012 based on his voting record.

"They want to take away your Second Amendment. You see what's going on. I don't think you want your Second Amendment played with," President Donald Trump said in the ad that was taken from last month's rally in West Virginia. "Joe Manchin always voted for Obama. And I like Joe, but Joe doesn't vote for us."

What else?

In recent polls, Manchin's double-digit lead has shrunk to single digits, according to FiveThirtyEight.

The Cook Political Report has the race listed as a toss-up.