Democrats see the writing on the wall. The Senate will likely flip to a Republican majority in November’s general elections. Leaders in the party are panicking.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is talking to Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) about not retiring as he plans to do when his term is up. Schumer knows that with Manchin out of the race, the seat will likely go to the Republican candidate. Manchin is the only Democrat state-wide officeholder in West Virginia. It’s a red state and Trump country.
What does Schumer suggest? He asked Manchin to reconsider his retirement. Schumer wants Manchin to make a late entry into the race and run as an independent to save his seat. Manchin didn’t take the bait but he also didn’t completely rule out the suggestion.
Manchin, who threw cold water on the idea and is still planning on retiring from the Senate, confirmed to CNN that he’s discussed the last-ditch bid with Schumer. While he said such a campaign is highly unlikely, he pointedly would not rule out changing his mind before the August filing deadline.
“I think that’s a long, long, long-shot scenario,” Manchin said of running as an independent candidate. “So I don’t anticipate that happening. I don’t anticipate running.”
Asked if that meant the door was completely closed: “I don’t know if anything in Washington, DC, is 100%.”
That’s the thing with Manchin. He sits on the fence as long as possible about different issues, waiting to see what works out best for him. He supports the Biden agenda with his voting record but maintains a reputation as a moderate Democrat who can work with Republicans. He may be a moderate but his behavior makes him look like he can’t make up his mind. He looks like he doesn’t stand up for what he believes is right.
If Manchin decides to run as an independent, it would force Republicans to spend money in West Virginia to flip the seat. It would take resources away from other top target seats.
Schumer is said to be bringing up this idea to donors. Manchin has until August 1 to file as an independent.
One thought is that Manchin may change his mind and run for re-election if the Democrat nominee turns out to be Don Blankenship. He is a former coal mining executive who served time in jail after he was found guilty of conspiring to violate mine health and safety standards after a devastating 2010 mine explosion. He ran as a Republican in the 2018 Senate primary but lost that race. He switched parties in 2024 to run in the Democrat primary to take Manchin’s seat.
Some of Manchin’s allies think if the race comes down to Blankenship and Republican Governor Jim Justice, there is a path for Manchin to win with a plurality of voters.
Manchin has made it clear he would not object to running as an independent. He’s flirted with the idea of running on the No Labels ticket for months. I think he finally shut that door, but who is to say? Manchin never totally rules anything out.
Manchin understands what will happen if Blankenship wins.
“I understand the scenario,” Manchin told CNN. “I want my state to be represented properly for someone who has a passion for our state. So we just have to see what unfolds. Really – after the primary … it’ll tell you a lot more.”
Joe Manchin is 76 years old. He’s made a career out of serving in political office. It’s time he retired.
According to Politico, Manchin is warning that Joe Biden may not win re-election. During Politico’s Health Care Summit Wednesday, Manchin said that Biden has been pushed too far left by his staff.
“He’s been pushed so far left it’s unbelievable,” said the West Virginia Democrat, who recently declined a third-party challenge to Biden and his GOP rival for the presidency, Donald Trump. “I have been raising hell from day one. … This is not how you’re going to get reelected.”
He’s been pushed too far left because that is who he aligns with in his demented state. He’s too afraid of the progressive caucus to stand up to their bat-poo craziness. For example, Biden is going wobbly on his support of Israel and its right to defend itself. He’s appeasing Muslim Arab American voters in Michigan instead of keeping a stiff spine on behalf of Israel. In a time that demands moral clarity, Joe Biden fails miserably.