West Virginia State – Independent Senator Joe Manchin on Sunday urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race against former President Donald Trump.
“I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” Manchin said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The West Virginia senator, who registered as an independent in May but caucuses with Democrats, also called for an open nomination process. He suggested Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as potential contenders, contrasting with others who see Vice President Kamala Harris as the favorite to lead the ticket.
During his appearances on Sunday broadcast media, Manchin reiterated his belief that Biden has the mental acuity to finish his term. He also mentioned that the Biden team was informed in advance about his call for Biden to step down.
The push for Biden to end his reelection bid has intensified since his debate performance against Trump in June. Alongside Manchin, at least 36 Democratic lawmakers, including four senators, have called on Biden to step aside and allow a new nominee to lead the ticket.
Manchin had been hinting at his waning support for Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee over the past week. After an attempted assassination of Trump at his Pennsylvania rally, Manchin released a statement condemning political violence and acknowledging the Democratic Party’s vulnerabilities with Biden at the helm.
“At a time when the Democratic Party must realize they risk losing the Senate and even the House, in addition to losing the presidency, they are doing nothing to broaden the tent and appeal to more Americans,” Manchin wrote last Sunday.
“Sadly, their vocal support for President Biden in the face of his irreparable debate performance is just evidence of how much control the far left has over the current administration,” he added.
Throughout the Biden administration, Manchin has positioned himself as a conservative Democrat, often opposing significant parts of the president’s agenda.
Earlier in the election cycle, he appeared to consider launching his own bid for the White House as an independent, especially after announcing he would not run for Senate reelection, leaving his seat open in a deep-red state. However, in February, he quieted the speculation, stating he would not launch a third-party campaign.
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