Joe Biden has an uphill battle in his race for a second term. It just got so much harder.
Because Joe Biden is shaking after being shot this one threat by a top Democrat.
New polls are coming out showing Joe Biden’s approval rating hovering around 36%.
That’s lower than the vast majority of presidents in recent memory at this point in their terms.
With Biden showing so much weakness, the vultures are hovering to see if now is there chance to strike.
And one former ally did just that.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) fueled speculation about a possible presidential run in 2024 when he met with officials of a crucial early state in Washington, D.C.
According to Axios, the senator met with Iowa power brokers in Washington on Wednesday. Manchin, who has regularly clashed with President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), has refused to rule out running for president in 2024 or running for reelection.
“Manchin continues to consider the best way he can serve his state and country. But make no mistake, he will win whatever race he enters,” a spokesperson previously told the Washington Examiner, declining to rule out a presidential run.
Iowa is no longer scheduled to be the Democratic Party’s first state, but it remains crucial in presidential politics.
During his talk with Greater Des Moines Partnership business executives, Manchin allegedly promoted his style of political centrism and emphasized the necessity to begin addressing the country’s many critical political challenges, themes he’s expressed publicly.
“When people say, ‘What’s your politics?’ I say I’m fiscally responsible and socially compassionate, which I think most Americans are,” he told attendees, Axios reported.
Manchin declined to comment on his presidential ambitions and decried the political middle’s hollowing out. On the same day, Manchin escalated his fight with the Biden administration over the Inflation Reduction Act, which he supported but has since vowed to repeal.
“Neither the Bipartisan Infra. Law nor the IRA gave the @EPA new authority to regulate power plant emission standards,” Manchin tweeted. “However, I fear that this Administration’s commitment to their extreme ideology overshadows their responsibility to ensure long-lasting energy & economic security.”
Earlier in the day, Manchin threatened to reject “all EPA nominees until they halt their government overreach.”
Since Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) entered the contest to recover the seat for Republicans, there has been speculation about Manchin moving his focus to the White House rather than the Senate. Justice is one of Manchin’s most significant opponents, and he is lagging behind the popular governor of the blood-red state in certain surveys.
Manchin reportedly held a recent discussion with the third-party group No Labels in which he lambasted the “dysfunctional” partisanship in the United States, in addition to publicly criticizing Biden.
Manchin claims to have had a 12-year association with the centrist group trying to have a third-party candidate on the ballot in all 50 states for the presidential race. This has sparked speculation that he is considering running for political office on his own.
While the West Virginia senator has consistently rebuffed Republican Party invitations, he would certainly struggle to defeat Biden in a Democratic primary given his history of irritating progressives.
Manchin, a rare Democrat from a state won by former President Donald Trump by nearly 40 percentage points in 2020, is anticipated to decide on his 2024 plans before the end of the year.
Manchin has stated that he is confident in the result of whatever race he enters.
“Make no mistake,” Manchin said. “I will win any race I enter.”
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
