Manchin stokes rumors he could challenge Biden in 2024 with Iowa gathering

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) stoked rumors about a possible 2024 presidential challenge when he met with leaders from a key early state in Washington, D.C.

The senator reportedly met with Iowa power brokers in Washington on Wednesday, according to Axios. Manchin, who has clashed with President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) repeatedly, has refused to rule out whether he could run for president in 2024 or choose to run for reelection.

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“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 slated to be the leadoff state for Democrats, but it remains influential in presidential politics.

During his discussion with business leaders from the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Manchin reportedly touted his brand of political centrism and stressed the need to begin tackling the country’s many pressing political problems, points he’s echoed 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 demurred on questions about his possible presidential ambitions and lamented the hollowing out of the political middle. That same day, Manchin ratcheted up his feud with the Biden administration on the Inflation Reduction Act, a bill he backed but has since threatened to support repealing.

“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 vowed to oppose “all EPA nominees until they halt their government overreach.”

Discussions about Manchin shifting his focus to the White House and away from the Senate have built up since Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) entered the race to try and reclaim the seat for Republicans. Justice serves as one of the most serious challengers Manchin has had to face, and he is trailing the popular governor of the blood-red state in some polls.

In addition to bashing Biden publicly, Manchin reportedly had a recent call with the third-party group No Labels in which he slammed the “dysfunctional” partisanship in the United States.

Manchin claims to have had a 12-year relationship with the centrist group hoping to get ballot access for a third-party candidate in the presidential elections in all 50 states. This has led to some conversations that he could be mulling an independent bid for political office.

While the West Virginia senator has long resisted appeals to join the Republican Party, he would likely have a tough time besting Biden in a Democratic primary given his history of rankling progressives.

A rare Democrat from a state where former President Donald Trump won by nearly 40 percentage points in 2020, Manchin is expected to make a decision about his 2024 plans by the end of the year.

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Regardless of which race, if any, he decides to enter, Manchin has said he is confident of the outcome.

“Make no mistake,” Manchin said. “I will win any race I enter.”