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Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia firmly opposed former President Donald Trump on Sunday, stating that Trump poses a significant danger to the future of democracy in the US.
He appeared on CNN’s State of the Union as senators readied to reconvene this week for eleventh-hour discussions focused on reaching an agreement on three critical matters: border protection, financial aid for Israel’s military efforts in Gaza, and financial support for Ukraine’s defense and retaliation against Russia. The Republicans have connected all three issues, insisting that border security measures be included in any foreign aid legislation.
Senator Manchin has been hinting at the idea of running as an independent in the upcoming 2024 election. His recent announcement of not seeking re-election for his Senate seat has sparked speculation about his future in politics. This decision also solidifies the state’s Republican governor, Jim Justice, as a serious contender for the Senate seat, making it unlikely for the Democrats to secure it in this electoral cycle.
On Sunday, he declined once again to say whether he would run for the presidency, and dodged questions from CNN’s Jake Tapper about how he envisioned a third-party candidate could have a path to the White House beyond simply drawing votes from one or both major parties and serving as a spoiler.
He informed Tapper that there is currently no set schedule for when he will make a definite decision about whether or not he will run.
He commented on President Trump’s recent statement to Fox’s Sean Hannity and later at a rally, where he joked about embracing authoritarian control right from the beginning of his presidency before giving it up. The former president and his supporters have dismissed this as a joke, but news sources have revealed a comprehensive plan to restructure the federal government and give the president more control over the Department of Justice.
The senator expressed concern over the amount of support Donald Trump has. She stated, “He has revealed his true self. When someone shows you who they are, you should believe them.”
The current state of democracy is unfamiliar and not in line with how our country has sustained itself for over 230 years. This experiment is now facing a threat. Will democracy be able to endure? These were his words.
In the past, Mr. Manchin has stated that he will only enter the presidential race if he is confident in his chances of winning. During an interview with Hannity, he even stated that he would not run if it would potentially ruin the chances of another candidate.
However, asserting one’s lack of guilt in regards to those charges would not exempt a potential Manchin 2024 presidential campaign from the constraints of the American political landscape.
If Mr. Manchin were to enter the race, he would encounter typical difficult obstacles that any third-party candidate faces. These include limited access to the ballot, insufficient funding, and a lack of backing from the major parties and their organizations.
He would also encounter significant doubt about his motives and a genuine concern, particularly among Democrats, of turning away from a sitting president in favor of Mr. Trump, who is widely despised by most members of his party.
In recent history, the most successful third-party candidates have been unable to secure a victory in any state during the Electoral College process.
After the 2016 election, numerous Democrats grew to dislike independent presidential candidates. This was due to the frustration and criticism of Green Party nominee Jill Stein for taking votes away from Hillary Clinton in crucial states that Clinton did not campaign in, ultimately leading to her loss to Donald Trump.
Source: independent.co.uk
