Dec 22, 2021 - Politics & Policy

McConnell: Manchin "feels like a man alone" among Democrats

Noah Garfinkel

McConnell and Manchin shaking hands ahead of a State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Wednesday made an open plea for Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to join the Republican Party, after Manchin's announcement earlier in the week that he would not vote for President Biden's signature agenda item.

What he's saying: "I think what Manchin is discovering is that there just aren't any Democrats left in the Senate that are pro-life and terribly concerned about debt and deficit and inflation," McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

"If he were to join us, he'd be joining a lot of folks who have similar views on a whole range of issues."

The big picture: McConnell called the White House statement following Manchin's announcement, which accused the West Virginia Senator of going back on his word to the president, "astonishing."

"Usually, when you’ve got a member a little bit out of sync with everybody else, you give him a lot of love. They did exactly the opposite."
McConnell told Hewitt that he has been having a conversation with Manchin about switching parties "off and on for a couple of years."

Flashback: Manchin previously offered to become an independent if his Democratic colleagues thought he was "an embarrassment."

Go deeper: White House accuses Manchin of betraying "commitments" on BBB

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McConnell: Manchin "feels like a man alone" among Democrats

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