It has been noted that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) will appear at a New Hampshire forum next month, further stoking rumors of a White House bid because the event is typically reserved for presidential candidates via MSN.
Manchin is set to speak at the “Politics & Eggs” event hosted by the New England Council and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics on Jan. 12, sparking continued speculation that the West Virginia Democrat could be considering a last-minute presidential run next year.
Manchin has left the door open to a White House bid, telling CNN last month he is considering a run but has not made a final decision.
Manchin will attend the event to begin his new organization’s national listening tour. The organization, Americans Together, is designed to create a platform for voters in the middle as a way to “build a bridge between popular will and political outcomes.”
Last month, Senator Manchin announced that he will not be seeking reelection to the Senate in the upcoming year. This announcement has sparked speculation about what the West Virginia Democrat’s next steps will be. However, some Democrats fear that if he enters the presidential race, it could harm President Joe Biden’s chances of winning the White House in 2024.
It is uncertain whether Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, would run as an independent candidate or join a third-party group such as No Labels if he decides to run for president in 2024.
He has previously indicated that he would only consider running with No Labels if the group had a viable path to the presidency and ballot access in all 50 states. Manchin has also stated that he would only run for president if he had a chance of winning. As of last month, No Labels had qualified for ballot access in 12 states.
However, some Democrats have criticized No Labels, arguing that a third-party ticket would “spoil” the election for Biden by diverting votes away from the incumbent and aiding former President Donald Trump in winning the White House. Manchin rejected this notion, arguing that his candidacy would not have a negative impact on the election if he decides to run.
