What Joe Manchin has said about entering the 2024 race
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Joe Manchin during a Senate hearing on June 4. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) said Monday morning that he would not be running for president in 2024, just hours after seemingly indicating an openness to doing so.
The big picture: President Biden's withdrawal from the race Sunday has opened the floodgates for a new Democratic ticket, though Vice President Kamala Harris has swiftly consolidated party support.
The big picture: Back in February — when it seemed Democrats were set for a Biden-Harris ticket — Manchin said he would not be entering the race, after flirting with the idea of an independent bid.
- He then left the Democratic party in May to file as an independent, accusing both Democrats and Republicans of prioritizing "partisan extremism."
- Hours before Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race, Manchin called on him to do so.
State of play: In the wake of Biden's announcement Sunday, Manchin was considering re-registering as a Democrat and entering the race, Axios' Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols reported.
- Early Monday morning, Manchin told CNN that "people are pushing in that direction" when asked if he was running.
- "I am not going to be a candidate for president," Manchin told CBS News later Monday morning.
Between the lines: Still later Monday, asked directly why he had been "all over the place" on the issue during an interview on Metro News Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval, Manchin denied that he had flip-flopped on the issue.
- "I'll consider anything I can to help my country, but there's a lot of good talent out there," Manchin told the radio show, noting that "people were calling" to ask him if he would consider entering the race.
- But he had "made his decision" and is definitely not running, Manchin confirmed in the radio interview.
- Manchin's office pointed Axios to his Metro News Talkline interview when asked for comment.
Go deeper: Manchin eyes presidential bid as Democrat
