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‘Shame On Her’: Sen. Manchin Reveals Why He Refuses To Endorse Kamala Harris


Despite leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent, there had been some speculation that Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia would endorse Kamala Harris.

He made it clear during a recent interview, however, that there will be no such endorsement, explaining the central reason for his decision.

According to CNN:

Vice President Kamala Harris’ vow to gut the Senate’s filibuster rule to pass a bill codifying abortion rights has cost her an endorsement from a leading Senate moderate: Joe Manchin.

The West Virginia independent, one of the staunchest defenders of the potent delay tactic in the Senate, told CNN on Tuesday that he wouldn’t back her candidacy now — despite signaling earlier this month he was getting ready to do so.

“Shame on her,” Manchin, who is retiring at year’s end, said in the Capitol. “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.”

Now that Harris has vowed to gut the filibuster on this issue, Manchin said he wouldn’t back her for president.

“That ain’t going to happen,” he said. “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.”

Manchin isn’t the only prominent ex-Democrat who has expressed a similar sentiment about Harris’ position.

Plenty of other pundits have also weighed in on social media:

Of course, Manchin’s opposition to Harris doesn’t mean he is willing to endorse President Donald Trump.

As Fox News reported:

In a statement released on Tuesday, Manchin said, “This threshold stabilizes our democracy, promotes bipartisan cooperation and protects our nation from partisan whiplash and dysfunction. I have always said: ‘if you can’t change your mind, you can’t change anything’ and I am hopeful that the Vice President remains open to doing just that.”

Manchin further specified to Fox News that he wouldn’t be backing former President Trump in the election either. “I’m not endorsing anyone,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., avoided getting involved during the Democrat leadership press conference, telling reporters, “It’s something our caucus will discuss in the next session of Congress.”

Here’s a clip of Manchin’s remarks on the topic:



 

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