Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) traveled to New Hampshire on Monday, where he spoke on behalf of a group searching for a third-party candidate for president.
A group called No Labels says it wants to nominate a Republican-Democrat combination for president and vice president in 2024, Politico reported.
In an interview with CNN after the town hall meeting on Monday night, the senator criticized the president.
“I think he’s been pushed too far left. He knows that. And we’re still friends. We can talk. I just think that basically —and a lot of the ways they’re interpreting and trying to implement pieces of legislation that never have the intent of what they’re trying to do to make something that wasn’t passed,” Manchin told CNN after the town hall, per the Washington Examiner.
“So we have our differences. We have the ability to dialogue and to talk about it. But I think he’s been pushed too far to the left. I don’t think that’s as inherent as who he is as a person,” he said. “And I think he has the strength to fight back, and he will. We’ll see.”
Manchin declined to say if he would run for re-election in West Virginia, where he faces an upstart Republican challenger in Gov. Jim Justice, as recent polls have shown.
“I haven’t made any decision, nor will I make a decision until the end of the year. And my reason for that, I’ve never seen a place in the world that basically the next election starts the day after the last election,” Manchin said, per the Washington Examiner.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do for my state of West Virginia, which I love dearly. I’ve got a lot of work to do for our government. I mean, the work for this great country of ours.”
No Labels said it will announce a candidate for a third-party run by Super Tuesday if it is clear by then the choices will be Biden and Trump, per Politico.
Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, who is also working with No Labels, appeared with former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman on Monday in New Hampshire.
He said criticism of No Labels’ effort was coming from “operatives out of Washington, D.C., who want to just keep the status quo,” per Politico. “But I’m telling you it won’t work. We’re going to get on the ballot.”
Manchin said he would be in the race to win if he jumped in.
“I’ve never been in any race I’ve ever spoiled. I’ve been in races to win. And if I get in a race, I’m gonna win,” Manchin said at the town hall, according to the Washington Examiner.
In modern American history, third-party candidates for president have been spoilers rather than serious contenders.
George Wallace won five southern states and 45 electoral votes (one elector defected) in 1968. He received 13.5% of the vote nationally against Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat Hubert Humphrey.
Texan Ross Perot won 18.9% of the vote in 1992 when Democrat Bill Clinton ousted incumbent Republican George Bush. Perot’s showing was the best for a third-party candidate since Teddy Roosevelt in 1912.
Still, some experts believe there is an appetite for a third party, especially in presidential politics.
Polls show voters want choices other than President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in 2024.