Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is keeping his options open ahead of the 2024 election cycle as he mulls whether or not to run for another term in the Senate.
Over the weekend, the linchpin senator appeared to rebut reports that he ruled out running for president in 2024. When asked for clarification, his spokesperson told the Washington Examiner, “Manchin continues to consider the best way he can serve his state and country. But make no mistake, he will win whatever race he enters.”
MANCHIN SIDESTEPS QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER HE WILL RUN FOR SENATE IN 2024
Earlier this month, Manchin riffed on his 2024 intentions during a radio interview he did with MetroNews.
“I’m not running for president of the United States. I can assure you of that as we sit here today,” Manchin said during the interview.
However, later in that interview, host Hoppy Kercheval pressed Manchin about whether he had actually taken a presidential run off the table.
“You asked me am I running today,” Manchin explained. “No.”
Then, on Sunday, Fox News host Maria Bartiromo noted that he ruled out a run for the presidency in an interview with Manchin, who replied that the interview with Kercheval was in “jest.”
“Well, the bottom line is, that was in jest. We were talking back and forth, a dear friend of mine, Hoppy Kercheval. We talked. And he said, this minute, this time, this and this,” Manchin said.
A presidential run for Manchin seems unlikely, given that he has not built up a presidential campaign apparatus. Aspiring candidates typically begin visiting key battleground states and hiring talent in advance of a launch. Furthermore, if he were to run, he would likely face an uphill primary battle with President Joe Biden, who has declared his intent to run.
For the first two years of the Biden administration, Manchin wielded tremendous influence in the 50-50 Senate, in which he was the key swing vote on a number of matters. At one point, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) greeted Manchin as “Mister President” at a Capitol Hill elevator in a nod to Manchin’s formidable political power at the time.
One seat Manchin has ruled out running for is West Virginia governor. He served as governor from 2005 until 2010, when he vied to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV). Manchin ruled out a gubernatorial run during his interview with Kercheval.
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Manchin is a rare Democrat who has won in a ruby-red state that former President Donald Trump won by nearly 40 percentage points in 2020. Looming over a Senate reelection bid is Gov. Jim Justice (R), who is term-limited and has toyed with running for Manchin’s seat.
Polling has indicated that he is one of the few Republicans in the state who could defeat Manchin. Part of Manchin’s waffling on what to do in 2024 stems from concerns about losing to Justice, per Puck News. So far, the major declared candidate in the race is Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV).
