Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) said Tuesday that he would not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president because of her call to end the filibuster in order to pass federal law creating a right to an abortion.
Manchin, who became an independent in May after 14 years as a Democratic senator, told CNN that getting rid of the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, would lead to chaos in the Senate and tear the country apart.
“Shame on her,” said Manchin, who is stepping down in January. “She knows the filibuster is the Holy Grail of democracy. It’s the only thing that keeps us talking and working together. If she gets rid of that, then this would be the House on steroids.”
“That ain’t going to happen,” he added when asked if he would back Harris’ campaign. “I think that basically can destroy our country, and my country is more important to me than any one person or any one person’s ideology. … I think it’s the most horrible thing.”
Harris made the comments about getting rid of the filibuster in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio on Tuesday.
“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe,” she said. “And get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.”
Other Democrats have expressed support for Harris’ proposal to do away with the filibuster for a vote on abortion.
“I am confident that many of our colleagues will do it exactly as Vice President Harris said, which is to make sure we restore the rights of Roe to every woman in this country,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA).
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Harris has focused much of her campaign on abortion, and Democrats have mobilized to place pro-abortion legislation in Republican-led states like Florida, Missouri, and Montana.
Her call to end the filibuster was criticized by pro-life advocates, who said it would not most Americans would not support it.
“Harris’ extreme record on the issue of abortion should frighten even pro-choice voters, not to mention vulnerable mothers who face unexpected pregnancies,” said March for Life President Jeanne Mancini. “She is clear about her support for unlimited abortion, but now she’s calling for the elimination of the filibuster in order to advance the most radical abortion policy the United States has ever seen and one which is totally out of touch with mainstream America.”
