Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said over the weekend that he will make a decision about whether he is going to launch a third party run for president within the next three months.
Speaking to Shannon Bream on Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” Manchin asked: “Why not have options? People aren’t satisfied right now.”
“A lot of people like you as an option. And you’ve said, once you make a decision, a target will be on your back,” Bream said. “So you’re waiting till the right time. But the fact is, the calendar is now going to start working against you. What is the timeline? Do you have any announcements to make this morning?”
“Not this morning. Let me just say this. I’ll do it,” he responded. “I’m more concerned about the country right now. What you’ve seen the theatrics have played out yesterday. And up until yesterday. It’s ridiculous.”
Manchin said that the U.S. needs a leader that can work with the center Left and the center Right and not be beholden to the extremes on either side.
“You have to work together. Kevin McCarthy, I praise Kevin McCarthy for what he did yesterday, he finally realized you can’t reason with unreasonable people, with the extremes,” Manchin said. “I hope that people, these people are represented. I hope their constituents finally say enough is enough. We want people that at least keep our government running and moving in the right direction. We can do that. And I think yes, I can bring it together. That’s all I’ve ever done.”
Manchin said that if former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden do not start coming back toward the center then “we’re going to bring it back.”
When pressed again about what his time was, Manchin responded: “Well, I said before the end of the year, I will. We’re still planning. I mean, if something what you’re saying would happen, there is no primaries, you just go right into the foray.”