Clinton heads back to coal country

The last time she was in Ohio she managed to stir up opposition by boasting more coal miners would lose their jobs if she won the White House. She was forced to backtrack her comments, including in a letter to Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia who was outraged by the comments.

“Simply put, I was mistaken in my remarks,” Clinton said in her letter to Manchin. “I wanted to make the point that, as you know too well, while coal will be part of the energy mix for years to come, both in the U.S. and around the world, we have already seen a long-term decline in American coal jobs and a recent wave of bankruptcies as a result of a changing energy market — and we need to do more to support the workers and families facing these challenges.”

It is not clear if she will discuss energy or climate change when she visits Ashland, Ky., and Williamson, W. Va., on Monday. Her campaign said she will “underscore Clinton’s focus on the aspirations and needs of families, especially in often-overlooked or underserved communities across the country, and what they are looking for in their next president.”

Tuesday, she will be in West Virginia before wrapping up her “Breaking Down Barriers” tour by going to Ohio to make remarks on the economy and jobs, the Clinton campaign announced Friday. West Virginia’s primary election is May 10.

Of the three states, Ohio has the most diverse economy, combining a growing energy industry with banking, research and development, defense, aerospace, heavy manufacturing, steel, mining and agriculture. Although the coal and manufacturing industries have taken hits, Ohio is still a major industrial state and home to some of the largest companies in the country.

West Virginia has seen many of its jobs from coal erode over the last year, with thousands losing jobs as a number of major employers in the state have declared bankruptcy. Kentucky is in a similar situation.