Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has sent up smoke signals that he is preparing to run for president — and taking shots at the White House in the process via Mediaite.
In an new interview with CNN, the outgoing West Virginia senator said he can “absolutely” see himself as president. CNN’s Edward-Isaac Dovere detailed the reasons why Manchin is becoming increasingly open to a White House bid:
Manchin called the president a “good, decent man” but said he worries about a second Biden term with a White House staff who he believes is dominated by a group of “far, far-left liberals.” He calls the prospect of a Trump return to the White House “very much concerning to every human being and every person who basically loves the country that we have, and the life that we have, and trying to have a future for our children and future generations
Dovere reports that if Manchin runs, he’d want to take the spots on state ballots being secured by the centrist “No Labels” group. That group, according to the CNN report, is experiencing internal turmoil on a number of fronts — including whether to have a Democrat or Republican atop their ticket.
According to CNN, Biden and top aides are “keeping their distance” from Manchin — ultimately hoping that he decides against an independent run.
