Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin remains coy about his future in politics, saying “everything is on the table and nothing is off the table.”
The West Virginia senator has yet to announce whether he will run for re-election in 2024. He told “Face the Nation” Sunday that he will win if he runs, but has also left the door open to a possible presidential bid.
“The bottom line is, I’m not involved in the political process right now, with all the things we have to do,” Manchin said when asked if he was willing to support President Biden’s re-election campaign. “Everybody thinks about politics first. I don’t. It’s not about politics. It’s not about my re-election or anybody else’s. We have a lot of work to do.”
Manchin listed a number of issues he said are more important than politics, including enabling reform, support for Ukraine, inflation and the country’s finances.
“If you bring in politics, I guarantee you will have no decision on any of this,” he said.
Republican from West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced in April that he was running to replace Manchinwho has said it would take until the end of the year to decide on his political future.
“Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan asked Manchin if his timeline gives Justice an edge.
“My job is to do what I can to help the people of West Virginia and support this great country of ours and defend the Constitution. That’s really the main cause of my job. It’s not up to me to get re-elected,” he said. “If I run, I will win.”
Manchin may be Democrats’ best hope of holding onto the seat in the red state, which voted overwhelmingly for former President Donald Trump in 2020. But the moderate has also been a thorn in the side for Democrats, blocking some of their top priorities in a closely divided Senate. .
More Caitlin Yilek
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