2024 is shaping up to be a rematch of the incredibly close and extremely controversial 2020 Presidential election.
If that’s the case, then Joe Biden will need all the help he can get to avoid being a one-term President.
But Joe Manchin just uttered one sentence that changed everything Joe Biden thought he knew about the 2024 election.
Manchin is leaving the U.S. Senate
A few weeks ago West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin looked like the most vulnerable Democrat incumbent up for re-election in 2024.
Republicans were heavily targeting the Mountaineer State in hopes of flipping the seat and closing in on taking back the majority in the Upper Chamber.
But Manchin was so vulnerable that even he saw the writing on the wall and decided against running for re-election next year.
With the Red state’s most popular Democrat out of the running, the seat almost assuredly will flip to either Governor Jim Justice or Representative Alex Mooney depending on who wins the Primary.
Republicans would need to flip just one additional seat currently held by a Democrat to demote Chuck Schumer to Minority Leader.
However, Manchin had one more announcement up his sleeves that could spell even more doom for the Party in power.
Manchin is considering a White House run
Before his retirement announcement, rumors were swirling about a potential White House bid for the man who used to portray himself as a blue-dog Democrat before caving to the woke wing of the Party’s base.
Manchin has cozied up to the little-known No Labels Party in recent years, even speaking at its events.
No Labels claims to be a centrist Party but supports almost entirely left-wing policies, which makes Manchin a perfect representative for the group.
Meanwhile, Manchin’s daughter, Heather, launched a new non-profit called Americans Together.
She claimed in an interview that the group is meant to provide a space for “the political homeless.”
And now Manchin is giving more credence to the speculation of a national campaign.
During an interview on Meet the Press, Manchin made it clear that he is considering a run for the White House.
“I will do anything I can to help my country, and you’re saying, ‘Does that mean you would consider it?’ Absolutely,” Manchin said. “Every American should consider it if they’re in a position to help save the country. I think we’re on the wrong course, so I will do everything possible.”
What would Manchin mean for 2024?
If Manchin runs, it is unclear if he would mount a Democrat Primary challenge to Biden or if he would run as a third-party candidate.
However, when Kristen Welker asked his deadline for a decision, Manchin – who had previously dropped hints about a December decision – pointed to Super Tuesday as the drop-dead date.
Super Tuesday is scheduled for March 5, 2024.
Waiting that long seems to indicate that Manchin would be opting to challenge both Biden and former President Donald Trump in the General Election.
Political experts believe Manchin’s involvement would take votes away from President Biden.
But Manchin would not be the only Left-of-center candidate on the ballot.
Jill Stein, who took far-Left votes away from Hillary Clinton in 2016, is running under the Green Party banner.
Activist Cornel West is running as a woke Independent.
And Robert Kennedy Jr. is running as an Independent after he dropped out of the Democrat Primary.
Conventional wisdom would suggest the lifelong Democrat would hurt Biden more than Trump.
However, some new polling suggests that Kennedy Jr. could steal more votes from Trump than Biden.
In the meantime, voters will have to wait and see if Manchin throws his hat into the ring.
Patriot Political will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
