West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin confirmed that he is not going to run for president of the United States, ending months of speculations that he was going to run an independent campaign.
The Friday announcement comes as there have been concerns that Manchin's potential 2024 presidential run could have complicated the race for the White House. During a speech in West Virginia, Manchin said that he "will not be involved in a presidential run" as he shifts his focus on other ways he can bring a divided nation together.
The West Virginia senator also said that he does not want to play the role of a spoiler as United States President Joe Biden is heading to a likely rematch with former president Donald Trump. He added that he does not believe that now is the right time for him to run for president, saying that Democracy is at stake.
The senator, who is a centrist Democrat who has relished his influence in a closely divided Senate, has stoked speculation for months that he could run for the highest position. He has also aligned himself with No Labels, which is a bipartisan group that has been looking into fielding a potential centrist ticket, as per the Washington Post.
Manchin's flirtations have become a source of anxiety for Democratic lawmakers as they are looking toward a likely Biden-Trump rematch. They are already facing close races in many key battleground states.
In Morgantown, West Virginia, the senator spoke but did not dwell on the Biden or Trump candidacies. Instead, he promised to work to "secure a president that has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together."
When asked regarding Manchin's decision on Friday, Michael Tyler, a Biden campaign spokesperson, praised the West Virginia senator. He said that Manchin has been an "incredible partner" for the administration in Congress.
Amid the rumors of a potential presidential run, Manchin has criticized Biden for being too liberal and scrutinized Trump, saying he would not be part of the latter's efforts to return to the White House, according to CNN.
Ending Months of Speculations of an Independent Campaign
While the West Virginia senator initially planned to make a decision by this spring, he made the call to do it early and instead shift his focus to a new group. This is Americans Together, which promotes moderate politics.
The centrist Democrat has been at odds with members of their own party throughout his congressional tenure, which started in 2010 after winning a special election for a vacant Senate seat. While he gave his support to Biden's efforts on some key legislative wins in the first half of the latter's presidency, he has been an outspoken critic of the president.
The No Labels party has been looking to attract a candidate for president, and Manchin has been one of the highest-profile names it was seeking to bag. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan quit the board of the party in January.
Hogan then decided to endorse former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her presidential efforts. Additionally, the former Maryland governor announced his own campaign for Senate in his state last week, said the New York Times.
