Joe Manchin, One of Kamala Harris’s Few Rivals, Says He Won’t Challenge Her

(PatriotPostNews.com) — An independent Senator from West Virginia who was previously suspected of being a potential Democratic presidential candidate has said he will not challenge the party’s frontrunner.

Sen. Joe Manchin said on Monday July 22, that he is “not going to be” challenging Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination. The lawmaker—who notably shifted political parties in May, citing his determination to advocate for “America’s sensible majority” rather than partisan politics—settled rumors that he might re-register as a Democrat to run against Harris.

The sitting vice president was endorsed by President Joe Biden over the weekend, after the commander-in-chief rescinded his re-election efforts. In social media posts, the president attributed his dropping out of the race as being in “the best interest” of the Democratic party and the country.

Less than an hour later, he endorsed Harris, calling on Democrats to “come together and beat Trump.” The news comes less than four months before the presidential election is set to be held in November.

While rumors and speculation about if and who could be held up as Democratic candidates alongside Harris continue swirling, Manchin settled questions about himself, at least. He said that he represents “the middle of this country” and, when asked why he would not run, explained that he does not “need that.”

But Manchin did not stop there when commenting on Biden’s historic decision to drop out of his re-election campaign. The West Virginia senator also said that the quick support for Harris from the Democratic Party is a “mistake.” He added his opinion that the decision to avoid a “mini process” of a primary election was also ill advised. Manchin is reportedly in favor of having an “open process” to select a new nominee.

He also referenced Democratic governors Andy Beshear and Josh Shapiro, of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, respectively, as potential contenders for the presidency. Democrats are on a time crunch and must choose another candidate in the coming weeks, as the party’s national convention is set to officially nominate someone in August.