West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin may be launching a third-party bid for president in 2024 as the candidate of the bipartisan No Labels organization. And he also may be picking Mitt Romney as a running mate. Or maybe none of this will happen.
Here is Henry Gomez at MSNBC:
Sen, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., danced around his interest in launching a third-party presidential bid here Thursday, but he endorsed a potential running mate if he does.
“Hypothetically, if I was picking my running mate, really who I would ask right now is Mitt Romney,” Manchin said, identifying the Republican senator from Utah.
Manchin also said he would consider former Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio, as a vice presidential pick.
“Rob’s a dear friend of mine,” Manchin said. “What a good man.”
Manchin offered several pointed criticisms of President Joe Biden in the appearance at a City Club of Cleveland breakfast — part of his nationwide “listening tour” that followed his decision to not seek another Senate term. The tour, which included a stop last month in New Hampshire ahead of that state’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary, has fueled speculation that Manchin might mount an independent or third-party campaign for president. He’s been linked to the No Labels organization’s effort to field a bipartisan ticket.Â
City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop, who moderated the forum, repeatedly pressed Manchin on his 2024 intentions — and Manchin repeatedly dodged, offering meandering responses and asides. During the audience question-and-answer session, an attendee tried again, asking who Manchin believed his Democratic opponent would be if he were to run for president.
“Guys, listen, I’m not running for anything,” Manchin replied. “I’m basically running to try to get people involved.”
Afterward, Manchin acknowledged to reporters that he hasn’t ruled out a White House campaign.
Read the rest here.