Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) hinted at when he would make a decision on entering the 2024 presidential race as he continues to tease a third-party run for the White House.
While on Fox News’s Fox and Friends, Manchin said that after Super Tuesday, March 5, if it appears as though President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will get the Democratic and Republican nominations, respectively, that will “create decisions to be made.”
When asked if he would run for president with the centrist group No Labels, Manchin said the group would need to secure widespread ballot access to be serious about giving an alternative option to Biden and Trump.
“The clear challenge is right now for No Labels — and this is a great organization who have a venue where Democrats and Republicans can sit down and work out differences,” Manchin said. “That started way back in 2010 when I first came to the Senate, and it was the only venue where you could do that. Their goal right now is to create options.”
“If it is needed, there will be an option, and their option would be they need to get on 34 ballots to be serious about attracting anybody that might be interested in this third-party move,” he added.
When asked if he were to run for president and be the candidate for No Labels, Manchin said he would not do it to be a spoiler and would fight to win — if he runs.
“Well, I’m not gonna be a spoiler. If there’s a pathway forward, I’ve always been involved and competitive,” he said. “If I’m gonna get involved, I would definitely want to win, and I’m gonna fight to win. I will not go in there trying to harm or help somebody else. I want to make sure that we create a different option, bringing people together. Any way I can work to bring Americans together is what I’m gonna be doing.”
The West Virginia Democrat responded to Democratic criticisms of No Labels as only helping Trump in the general election by asking why they are afraid of voters having options or “hearing a different voice.”
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“Why are you afraid of competition? Why are you afraid of options? Why are you afraid of people hearing a different voice? This is not right, this is not wrong,” he said. “I don’t have all the answers, but I can work with you and figure out how we can secure our greatest problems.”
Manchin is not running for reelection to his Senate seat in November and has added fuel to speculation of a presidential bid with his recent trip to New Hampshire, along with other moves.