Joe Manchin Says He Will Not Run For Democratic Nomination But Calls For “Vigorous” Process To Pick Standard Bearer

After dangling the prospect that he would get into the race for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) says that he will not.

“I am not going to be a candidate for president. I am a candidate for basically speaking to the middle of this country,” Manchin said on CBS Mornings.

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“Neither side can win without the sensible, moderate middle,” he said.

Hours after Joe Biden announced that he was withdrawing from the presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, reports surfaced that Manchin was mulling re-registering as a Democrat and mounting a challenge.

But Manchin would have faced an uphill climb, as Harris has quickly racked up endorsements from top party officials and some VP prospects, including Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY), Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA).

Manchin warned that by not “strengthening the process that we have, we’re not basically adhering to a primary or letting us know of all this new generation. … It would help strengthen, I believe Kamala, and her position too.” He said that he thought the rush to endorse Harris was a “mistake, but it is one that they have made.” He warned that the party had gone too far to the left.

On Sunday morning, as he called for Biden to step aside, Manchin had praised Beshear and Shapiro as the Democrats’ new generation of leaders.

“I cannot believe that there is a primary process or a mini-process. Other countries do it,” Manchin said. “…No one else is willing to speak up.”

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