Former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in West Virginia, announced Sunday that he was canceling a town hall event in Martinsburg in light of Saturday's shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pa. (File photo)

WHEELING — As the world reeled in the aftermath of an assassination attempt Saturday against former president Donald Trump, political leaders throughout West Virginia condemned the act and thanked the first responders who came to Trump’s aid. The incident also led one candidate to amend his campaign schedule.

Former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott — now running for the U.S. Senate seat soon to open with the retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va. — announced Sunday that a scheduled town hall meeting today in Martinsburg was canceled, citing the shooting Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. Not only was Trump wounded when a bullet grazed his ear, another man, former volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore, was killed and two others were wounded.

“Like so many of you, I am at a loss to comprehend the senseless, nauseating violence that took place in Butler, PA,” Elliott posted on his campaign’s Facebook page. “These are unprecedented times, and the safety and comfort of my fellow West Virginians is of the utmost importance.”

Elliott hoped to reschedule the Martinsburg stop, and added that he would alter other aspects of his campaign for the time being. Elliott has embarked on a tour of all 55 West Virginia counties and has scheduled several town halls, but for now he’ll avoid gathering in large crowds and suspend door knocking for this leg of the campaign.

Reached Sunday, Elliott said he was outside playing with his son when he heard the news of the attempted assassination. He said he’d be lying if he said that safety isn’t an issue he thinks about on the campaign trail.

“(The news) hit me hard both because the last thing I want to do is have my son grow up without a father,” he said, “but at the same time I also don’t want my son to grow up in a world where solving our disagreements with violence is seen as the norm.”

Elliott understands “for better or worse” there is a certain assumption of risk with political campaigns, but he’s willing to accept those risks in hopes of being part of the solution.

“We are better than things would suggest right now,” he said.

Elliott hopes that what happened in Butler is a reminder to both sides of the political spectrum that they need to take a step back and realize that people are “Americans first and partisans second,” and that Americans should look at each other as the enemy.

“Politics can and should be a noble profession that appeals to our highest aspirations,” he said. “It can also be a bloodsport that sows internal division and tears us apart. Issues notwithstanding, one of the biggest reasons I am in this campaign is to run a race that my son would be proud of and try to nudge our nation away from the precipice. We agree on so many more things than we do not, but we increasingly let ourselves be defined by the latter.”

Elliott’s Republican opponent in November’s election, Gov. Jim Justice, also released a statement following the shooting. Justice has long mentioned his strong relationship with Trump, even spending time hunting with Trump’s son, Donald Jr. It was at a 2017 Trump rally in Huntington where Justice, who originally was elected governor as a Democrat, was switching parties to the GOP.

“All of my prayers go out to President Trump and his family,” Justice said in the statement. “We should draw strength from his courage. I REFUSE to let these actions make me feel afraid.”

Justice also announced he would deliver a statewide address to West Virginians at 11 a.m. today. The subject of that address was not announced.

Manchin himself released a statement Sunday evening chastising both sides for the extremism that he said drives political discourse today. That divisiveness, he continued, is alienating the “sensible majority” in the middle and has broken the American political system.

That’s a big reason why Manchin, a long time Democrat until registering as an independent in May, changed his political affiliation.

“Each day, we see increasingly violent language being used to demonize and villainize the other side. No room has been left for discussion or debate. Love of country has been replaced with hate for anyone who professes to support the other party. But nothing good has ever come from hate.

“This should be a wake-up call for all of us. This is a moment where Americans must come together to support the ideals that make our nation great. It is a time to put country before party. On both sides. It is a time to focus on what we are for, not who we are against. It is a time to recognize how close we are to tearing this country apart and to acknowledge how much worse that will be for all Americans.”

Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., another longtime Trump supporter in U.S. Congress, released his own statement, calling the assassination attempt a “horrifying moment for our nation” and that he was relieved to hear that Trump was OK.

“There is no place for violence in our politics and it must be condemned,” Mooney said. “I want to thank the brave members of the United States Secret Service, local police and first responders who put their lives on the line to protect President Trump. My heart goes out to the families of the innocent patriots that were killed and injured in the crowd.

“Heinous acts by deranged actors have no place in our politics,” he continued. “This type of senseless violence goes against everything our country stands for. It must not be tolerated. (Saturday’s) events will not deter President Trump or his supporters.”

Other West Virginia political leaders went quickly to social media following the attack to offer their thoughts to Trump and those killed and injured at the rally.

“Praying for President Trump, everyone at the rally and our country,” said U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

“Pray for President Trump,” said U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va.

“The whole state of West Virginia is praying for you, President Trump! We are rooting for a quick recovery after this heinous act. We stand by you!” posted West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican nominee for governor.