Staff Reports
Sources reveal that Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, has been meeting with voters in Iowa, sparking speculations about his potential presidential bid for 2024. Although he has yet to announce his run for re-election in his state, he has been touted as a possible contender for the White House, especially since he openly criticizes President Joe Biden’s progressive agenda and does not endorse him for a second term. Axios reports that Manchin met with Iowa leaders in D.C., where he made a centrist pitch to the economic and community development organization, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, which has roughly 170 members.
'How do we save this nation?': Joe Manchin sparks 3rd-party presidential rumors https://t.co/ioUd6jC9SZ
— WND News (@worldnetdaily) May 11, 2023
Manchin’s statements during the meeting concerning social compassion and fiscal responsibility seem to resonate with many Americans who want a government that partners with them instead of becoming the provider. Nonetheless, sources note that Manchin did not confirm his presidential bid but instead said that his focus is on bringing the country together amidst political differences.
In the 2024 elections, Manchin could run on the centrist political organization No Labels’ bipartisan ticket, giving voters a different option apart from both the Trump and Biden offerings. No Labels founder and CEO Nancy Jacobson sees this as an insurance policy against a Trump-Biden rematch. Still, Third Way warns against a third-party candidate’s entry, fearing that it would hand over the White House to the GOP.
In the meantime, two Republican contenders have joined the race to unseat Manchin – Governor Jim Justice and Representative Alex Mooney. However, Justice currently leads Mooney by 28 points, and a National Journal poll conducted this May shows that he would beat Manchin by 43% to 29%, while Mooney would lose by six points.
Manchin’s spokesman has so far declined to provide any comment on the senator’s presidential aspirations or his candidature for re-election. It remains to be seen whether Sen. Manchin will throw his hat in the ring in 2024 and whether his brand of politics will resonate with Iowa voters.
Source: The Daily Caller
