West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced he will not run for president in 2024, ending months of speculation over a potential independent bid.
Sen. Manchin said, “I will not be involved in a presidential run.”
“I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president who has the knowledge, has the function and has the ability to bring this country together,” he continued.
While initially open to the idea, Manchin acknowledged the challenges a third party candidate would face in winning.
He also dismissed the idea floated the previous day of teaming up with Mitt Romney in a bipartisan unity ticket.
Manchin, who is retiring from the Senate, stressed his commitment to finding presidential candidates who can unite rather than divide the country.
The centrist Democrat, known for occasionally breaking with his party, encouraged more politicians to embrace bipartisanship over rigid allegiance to either major party.
“I don’t pledge allegiance to the Democratic Party of America. I don’t pledge allegiance to the Republican Party of America. I don’t pledge allegiance to anything else except the United States of America,” declared Manchin.
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