Sen. Joe Manchin III declined to say Sunday whether he would support President Biden running for reelection, an announcement that the commander in chief is expected to make in the weeks ahead.
The conservative West Virginia Democrat talked about a desire for unity while dodging if he would back Mr. Biden’s candidacy.
“I haven’t decided on anything I’m going to do until I see what the lay of the land is going to be at that time because this country needs to unite,” Mr. Manchin said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “We need to come back together. We’re not coming together. And it needs to be somebody that can bring this country together.”
Mr. Manchin criticized Mr. Biden for being “pulled to the left too far” but said the president has “done a good job in so many factions, in so many areas.”
“I think there’s a lot more to be done,” he said. “That centrist center is what the country wants, that’s what the people want in America. They want us to work out of the center.”
Mr. Manchin didn’t explicitly rule out a run for president of his own as he continued to play coy on his political future and whether he’ll seek reelection to the Senate in 2024.
“I’m telling you that I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that, when I make my decision, I make it based on what’s best, what I think I can do to support and best for my country in my state,” he said.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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