West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin’s potential presidential bid is causing unease among his Democratic colleagues who are working to dissuade him, arguing that such a move would only benefit Republicans.
The senator has been toying with the idea of running as a third-party candidate, a possibility that the self-proclaimed centrist group, No Labels, might support through its $70 million fund allocated for a third-party contender in 2024.
However, for Senate Democrats, this notion is seen as nothing short of a catastrophe.
Senator John Hickenlooper from Colorado, for instance, warned Manchin against pursuing a third-party presidential run, describing it as a “terrible idea” that would “help Donald Trump.”
Manchin, playing his cards close to his chest, responded to Hickenlooper with a nod, leaving the door open for speculation.
Manchin’s political indecisiveness coincides with an impending challenging reelection bid in 2024, potentially pitting him against West Virginia’s popular Republican governor, Jim Justice.
Manchin, who has yet to commit to seeking reelection, has stated that he’s in no rush to make a decision.
Besides the possibility of a presidential bid, he might consider running for governor, a position he previously held from 2005 to 2010.
At present, Senate Democrats are taking Manchin’s presidential aspirations seriously.
Senator Gary Peters from Michigan confirmed that Manchin is still contemplating a presidential run, while Senator Jon Tester from Montana said, “you never know about Joe.”
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Some lawmakers believe that if Manchin were to run for president, Republicans would likely secure West Virginia’s Senate seat in 2024 and could potentially clinch the White House.
However, Manchin remains unconvinced, questioning the notion that a third-party bid would be advantageous to the GOP.
Manchin’s potential reelection bid has compelled him to distance himself from President Joe Biden’s spending agenda.
He has positioned himself as a critic of Biden’s policies, particularly taking issue with the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, a bill that Manchin himself named and orchestrated.
In February, Manchin spoke highly of the legislation, calling it “the most transformative bill that we’ve ever had in the United States, in Congress, as far as I’ve been here.”
Nonetheless, Manchin’s support for the Inflation Reduction Act has proven problematic for the Democrat.
A spending group aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has invested millions in advertisements criticizing Manchin’s involvement in the bill, arguing that it could result in the loss of 100,000 fossil fuel jobs in West Virginia.
If Manchin were to go head-to-head with Governor Justice in the upcoming election, he might face an uphill battle.
According to a May poll by the National Journal, 43 percent of likely general election voters support Justice, while only 29 percent back Manchin.
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