Raw Story Editor-in-Chief Dave Levinthal appeared on Scripps News to weigh in on a surprise announcement from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) that he won't run for re-election next year, and what it might mean for the 2024 race to the White House.
"It could be disastrous for Democrats," Levinthal said. "That was a seat that they were really, really desperately hoping to hold and the only way to hold it was with Joe Manchin in West Virginia."
Levinthal marveled that Manchin pulled off the tall order of claiming victory in a red state, "albeit a very conservative Democrat on the political spectrum, relatively speaking."
Manchin, who has often clashed with President Joe Biden and other Democrats, was recently listed number one on a news report outlining Senate seats that could potentially flip in 2024.
Once he punches out of Washington, Manchin says he'll begin a "fight to unite the middle."
“What I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together,” he said in his retirement video.
It was reported that Manchin has been playing footsie with No Labels, a group that is aiming to run a centrist third party ticket for the White House.
“Regarding our No Labels Unity presidential ticket, we are gathering input from our members across the country to understand the kind of leaders they would like to see in the White House,” the group said in a statement, according to the New York Times.
Levinthal said that Manchin is one that has "kept his own counsel" and "isn't necessarily going to be swayed by Democratic Party leaders."
"He isn't going to just to bend to the political winds blowing in one direction or another," he said.
Indeed, it could be that 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. might be in Manchin's travels around the country.
"We have a presidential election coming up in 2024," Levinthal noted.
"The fact that he is so moderate and even leans conservative in some respects — if he is going to make some sort of a third party bid or a move to run for president, which he has openly flirted with over the past year — this would really be about the only time that he could conceivably do it."
