US Senator Joe Manchin on Monday explicitly stated that he will not be a candidate for president, opposing potential Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, who received President Joe Biden's endorsement after he exited the race.
Manchin clarified his position to CBS television shortly after his earlier non-committal response in another interview. He expressed his preference for a "mini-primary" process before selecting a candidate to succeed Biden. When questioned about Harris's liberal stance, Manchin responded, "Absolutely."
Earlier on CNN, Manchin had been evasive about running against Harris, saying, "I don't know." However, he made it clear to CNN that he had no interest in serving as Harris's vice-president. Manchin revealed that he has been urged by supporters to consider a 2024 run, citing the need for a more centrist leader.
Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in May due to his opposition to "partisan extremism," emphasized his commitment to representing the center of the country, stating, "I want the center of this country to be able to say, we have a voice. We're not extreme left, we're not extreme right."
