Joe Manchin accused of ‘ducking the truth’ and hiding from being a Democrat by Republicans

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new video advertisement claiming that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is “ducking the truth” by trying to distance himself from his party affiliation.

The video plays off the adage “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck,” and presents clips of Manchin proclaiming himself as a Democrat, as rumors swirl over a potential third-party presidential run for Manchin.

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“Joe Manchin talks like a Democrat. Joe Manchin votes like a Democrat. Joe Manchin is a Democrat, and West Virginians have had to pay the price,” the narrator said. “Tell Joe Manchin: ‘stop ducking the truth,’ admit you’re a Biden Democrat.”

Manchin has been unclear about his 2024 plans, leaving the door open for a Senate run or an independent presidential run. The West Virginia Democrat has said he will make a decision on his electoral plans by the end of the year. He said in August that he is “thinking seriously” about becoming an independent.

The Senate GOP looks to keep Manchin’s party affiliation front and center if he opts to run for another term in 2024 in the heavily Republican state.

“Joe Manchin called himself a Democrat for decades and single-handedly delivered Biden’s Green New Deal, bankrolling disastrous policies that jeopardize West Virginia jobs. Manchin is a reliable vote for Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden, not West Virginians,” NRSC spokesman Tate Mitchell said in a statement.

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The centrist has said he feels bullish on his chances in whatever his 2024 plans are, saying that if he gets “in a race, I’m gonna win.”

Manchin is widely seen as the most vulnerable Senate Democrat up for reelection in 2024. The Senate race in the Mountain State already features popular Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) and Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), who is also running for the seat. The Cook Political Report has rated the seat as a “toss up.”