Politics is a fast-paced game – one minute you’re one of the most popular elected officials in the country, the next you’re struggling to win re-election.
Joe Manchin knows that story all too well.
And now, he’s hinting that he may have better chances running outside of his home state.
Manchin’s fall from grace
With one vote, Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia changed his entire political future.
For the length of his political career, Democrat Joe Manchin has played the part of a centrist.
His moderate act led him to high-profile roles as Governor and U.S. Senator from West Virginia.
In fact, at one point, his apparent willingness to work across the aisle and even buck his party leadership made him one of the most popular politicians in the entire country.
However, at the end of the day, he is still a Democrat, he voted for Chuck Schumer for Majority Leader, and more often than not, votes with his party.
Manchin was briefly considered a hero by some on the Right, when he became the gum holding up the works of President Joe Biden’s disastrous spending boondoggle, the so-called, “Build Back Better” bill.
However, the Biden Administration, Schumer, and even Bill Gates spent months working over Manchin, trying to get him to change his mind.
From first to worst
In the end, Manchin agreed to a some-what scaled-down version of “Build Back Better,” and he – along with Arizona Sen. Krysten Sinema – both voted in favor of the ironically named, “Inflation Reduction Act,” which really was the Green New Deal in disguise.
West Virginia poll by Morning Consult
Governor Jim Justice (R) Job Approval:
Approve: 64%
Disapprove: 31%
Net: +33%Senator Joe Manchin (D) Job Approval:
Approve: 40%
Disapprove: 53%
Net: -13%October 1 – December 31https://t.co/fkjBfNws1Y pic.twitter.com/Yi6C6VYCpu
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) January 17, 2023
And now he’s paying a big price for betraying his constituents.
Manchin’s approval numbers with his constituents are way down.
The latest polling from Morning Consultant shows Manchin underwater with his voters by 13-points.
West Virginia’s senior Senator only scored 40% approval, compared to 53% disapproval.
Having a net negative approval rating is bad, but it’s especially troubling when the disapproval is above 50%.
Manchin will have to face the voters of the Mountaineer State in 2024 if he chooses to run for another term in the Upper Chamber.
Manchin for President?
But now he’s hinting that there may be a position he’d rather seek.
In an interview with Semafor’s Steve Clemons and Robert Costa, Manchin refused to rule out a bid for the White House in 2024.
“I don’t like the direction we’re going,” Manchin said. “In all seriousness, the only thing I’m concerned with is what can I do to bring the country together. I don’t know what– I don’t know what the next chapter will be. I don’t know where the future lies, I really don’t, but I can tell you one thing, I feel like most Americans, we got to come together.”
Manchin has also recently hinted that he’s open to following his friend Sen. Sinema’s lead and leaving the Democrat Party.
Manchin could do like Sinema and become an independent, or he could make a deal with Republicans and switch to the Grand Old Party.
West Virginia’s senior Senator will have to make a decision soon, as challengers for his seat in the Upper Chamber are already starting to line up.
Deplorable Daily will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
