CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin expounded a little further Monday on his decision to not run for President. Manchin appeared on MetroNews “Talkline” after his announcement Friday that he will not be getting in the race.
He was asked if there was a single moment which triggered the decision.
“I thought about that, but I tell you nothing ever affected me as much as when I saw my colleagues vote down the Border Security bill,” Manchin explained.
Manchin said he was with the Republicans who raised concerns about the border and believed the attention there needed to be the focus ahead of funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. But he also felt betrayed when the same people who sought the border security package rejected it.
“I came to a realization truly that Washington is not going to be repaired inside of Washington,” he added.
Manchin said he’s been to about ten states in recent months on his “quest for the middle.” He said although he’ll not be running for President he will continue the quest.
“I’ve committed and dedicated myself as I leave the political arena, I’m going to be going around the country and trying to explain to people that 55 to 60 percent of us live in the center-middle and we’re in the center,” he said.
Asked if would support Joe Biden for re-election, Manchin was non committal. The longtime Democrat said he couldn’t support Biden if he remained as far to the left as he has become in his first three years in office.
“Until I see some movement back to the middle. Until I see some more centrist-moderate where he says he came from. He has gone clear to the left and if he’s comfortable there, I’ve got a problem,” said Manchin.
However, he added, there will be no support from him for Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
“I’ve never seen a person that was hell-bent on destroying our country more than him,” said Manchin of Trump.
The Senator also added the wreck in Alabama which injured his wife Gayle in recent weeks was another moment where he had to take stock of what was truly important in his life. Mrs. Manchin, who is co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, was in a vehicle which was t-boned by a car fleeing police in Birmingham. According to the Senator it was only inches away from being a crash which would have easily killed her.
“Absolutely it brings you back to what’s important in life and the people who are important in your life,” said Manchin.