West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin declined to endorse President Joe Biden if the latter chooses to run for president again in the 2024 elections, arguing that he would prefer to see more options before making his decision.
The Democratic lawmaker made the remarks during an appearance on Sunday's episode of CBS News' "Face the Nation." Manchin also did not provide specific details regarding his political future as he faces a severe challenge from Republicans next year.
Joe Manchin's Political Stance
When asked if he would support a potential 2024 Biden campaign, Manchin noted that there is plenty of time to think about elections. He argued that currently, there are many problems plaguing the United States. He said that he wanted to wait to see who all of the players were before choosing who to support.
On the other hand, Biden's White House officials continued to suggest that the Democratic president is planning to run in the 2024 elections. As per Fox News, Manchin also clarified that he intends to make announcements regarding his political future at the end of this year.
The West Virginia lawmaker's comments come as the GOP's 2024 Primary becomes more controversial, with nominees popping up left and right to challenge former United States President Donald Trump.
Manchin has been one of the most moderate Democrats in Congress so far and has continued to be a thorn in the side of liberals and progressives in his party. He has publicly split with the president for what he considered in his party to be pushing Biden too far to the left.
He noted that the United States currently has a "runaway debt" and argued that sky-high inflation kills people who cannot afford necessities. Manchin also said that the country has unsecured energy and that the border was already out of control.
Campaign for the 2024 Elections
The senator previously became notorious for being non-committal about what office he intends to run for when his term ends in 2024. Previously, he suggested that he would not run for president, but since then, he has walked back on his remarks, saying that he made them in jest, according to The Hill.
In a statement, Manchin said he was neither taking anything off nor putting anything on the table. He is expected to face mounting pressure from Senate Democrats to run for re-election in his state as the left is looking to meet a less favorable Senate map in the 2024 elections. The number of opportunities for GOP members to pick up Democratic seats, including in West Virginia, is rising.
So far, the only political move that Manchin has ruled out for him in the 2024 season is running for West Virginia governor, an office he previously held. In recent weeks, the Democratic lawmaker also avoided questions about his loyalty to his party. Last month, he was asked whether or not he was a Democrat, answering by saying that he is "an American," said Yahoo News.
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