Democrats growing worried by prospect of Joe Manchin launching 3rd party presidential bid: ‘A terrib

[libertybele]

Democrats growing worried by prospect of Joe Manchin launching 3rd party presidential bid: ‘A terrible idea'

Democrats on Capitol Hill are growing increasingly concerned that Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., may launch a third party presidential campaign in 2024, potentially tanking President Biden's chances of re-election.

The danger of a potential Manchin presidential run is twofold for Democrats, in that they cannot afford to have a spoiler siphon votes away from Biden, and they also have no reliable candidate to prevent Manchin's Senate seat from falling to Republicans.

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said he spoke with Manchin about the issue this spring, but received a noncommittal response from the West Virginia senator.

"I have advised him against it. I think it would be a terrible idea," Hickenlooper told Politico. "It would help Donald Trump.".........

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-growing-worried-prospect-joe-manchin-launching-3rd-party-presidential-bid-terrible-idea

[bigheadfred]

Anything to dethrone Biden works for me.

[libertybele]

Anything to dethrone Biden works for me.

Absolutely, that and a 3rd party run would likely split the DEM vote handing a better chance for a GOP win.

[massadvj]

Everyone assumes there is this great population of suburban moderate Republicans, mostly women, who are right-center but despise Donald Trump and are just waiting for a prince to come and save them.  I think the Republican primary will show that this population is mostly mythical.

Nonetheless, if the fantasy inspires Manchin to throw his hat in as an independent, I say go for it.

[Kamaji]

Everyone assumes there is this great population of suburban moderate Republicans, mostly women, who are right-center but despise Donald Trump and are just waiting for a prince to come and save them.  I think the Republican primary will show that this population is mostly mythical.

Nonetheless, if the fantasy inspires Manchin to throw his hat in as an independent, I say go for it.

[libertybele]

Everyone assumes there is this great population of suburban moderate Republicans, mostly women, who are right-center but despise Donald Trump and are just waiting for a prince to come and save them.  I think the Republican primary will show that this population is mostly mythical.

Nonetheless, if the fantasy inspires Manchin to throw his hat in as an independent, I say go for it.

Manchin has leaned to the right a bit a couple of times, but he's a liberal.  I don't really know why there's concern that he'll run as an Independent??

[massadvj]

Manchin has leaned to the right a bit a couple of times, but he's a liberal.  I don't really know why there's concern that he'll run as an Independent??

He plays Biden and his party like a violin.

[bigheadfred]

Manchin has leaned to the right a bit a couple of times, but he's a liberal.  I don't really know why there's concern that he'll run as an Independent??

Could be there are a lot of democrats and independents looking for an escape hatch.

[mystery-ak]

Democrats trying to talk Manchin out of White House ambitions
by Cami Mondeaux, Congressional Reporter |
June 21, 2023 09:42 AM

Democrats trying to talk Manchin out of White House ambitions
Cami Mondeaux

As Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) mulls a reelection bid, the West Virginia senator has kept members of his party on their toes as he openly flirts with a presidential bid, refusing to close any doors as he considers his next move.

Democrats have 23 Senate seats up for grabs in the 2024 cycle, setting the stage for a contentious election that could cost the party its one-seat majority. The stakes have put Manchin in an advantageous position as Democrats seek to keep the centrist Democrat happy as well as quash any plans for a White House run.

“I have advised him against it. I think it would be a terrible idea,” Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) told Politico. “It would help Donald Trump.”

Manchin has not indicated whether he plans to seek a presidential bid. However, the centrist is considered to be a favored candidate for No Labels, an outside political group that has vowed to promote a third-party ticket if the 2024 election features a rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

The group maintains it has not chosen a prospective nominee, telling the Washington Examiner earlier this month it would not make such a decision until its nominating convention next year. But No Labels CEO Nancy Jacobson did not rule out Manchin as the group’s top pick, telling Fox News it’s “too premature” to say.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/democrats-want-manchin-drop-white-house-ambitions

[DCPatriot]

I'd rather he run as a 3rd Party candidate than switch his Party to GOP, where his vote is worthless.

[mountaineer]

I think his wife's drinking may come to peoples' attention. Betty Ford 2.0.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Manchin is probably trying to get more leverage to get Biden loosen regulations on energy projects and companies in West Virgina.

Manchin would get more votes from Republicans than Democrats.

[Cyber Liberty]

He plays Biden and his party like a violin.

You mean like how Manchin got Shortbus Joe to spare oil and coal jobs in WV?  There is some question about who played whom.

[Free Vulcan]

Don't listen to Chickenpooper, run Joe run!

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I’d love a house of reps runoff election!

[libertybele]

Don't listen to Chickenpooper, run Joe run!

 

[ScottinVA]

A Manchin 3rd party run would be the GOP’s only realistic shot at taking the White House next year if Trump is the nominee yet again.  But Manchin, for all his flirtations with independence, is a democrat first, foremost and always.  Dems would sooner eat their young and dismember their mothers than take even the smallest step to harm their beloved Party.

[mountaineer]

Exactly right, @ScottinVA . Manchin is not now, nor will he ever be anything but a Democrat. Being "moderate" by WashPost standards doesn't mean he's conservative.

[Fishrrman]

Scott predicts:
"A Manchin 3rd party run would be the GOP’s only realistic shot at taking the White House next year if Trump is the nominee yet again."

It might not become "the only realistic shot", but it would certainly tip the odds towards Mr. Trump in those states he will need most:
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
... along with Arizona and Georgia.

A modestly effective 3rd-party candidate could play havoc with The Party's underground election apparatus, which might not be able to produce a sufficient number of ballots to tilt the outcome to The Party's favor...

[Right_in_Virginia]

He plays Biden and his party like a violin.

And at this, Manchin is a maestro.