Joe Manchin for president?

Rumor has it that Sen. Joe Manchin — West Virginia’s lone congressional Democrat — may run for president as a substitute of looking for reelection to his Senate seat subsequent fall.

However the query is: President of what?

President of the US, working on the third-party No Labels ticket?

Or president of West Virginia College, giving up political workplace for an administrative place in academia?

Who is aware of?

Perhaps not even Manchin. All he’ll say is that it doesn’t matter what he pursues, he’ll — in his phrases — win.

It appears the senator is having enjoyable taking part in noncommittal. It retains his colleagues and potential opponents on their toes and his title within the headlines, which is actually free publicity.

His constituents, nevertheless, are much less amused.

There’s already a mad scramble among the many Republicans for Manchin’s Senate seat. If he’s planning on pursuing a special workplace (or no workplace in any respect), Manchin must say so sooner somewhat than later. The Federal Election Fee has Manchin’s assertion of candidacy on file from June 2022, however Manchin has not publicly confirmed his run for Senate and has as a substitute stoked rumors together with his obscure feedback.

Only a few (if any) West Virginia Democrats wish to main the sitting senator; Manchin owes it to the state and his celebration to present loads of discover if he’s stepping apart, so candidates can file for the Could main, which is barely seven months out (and the submitting deadline is Jan. 27, 2024). And there’s solely somewhat greater than a 12 months from the overall election.

That will seem to be a very long time to an bizarre particular person, however that’s the blink of an eye fixed in politics. Particularly when it takes a lot money and time to get a marketing campaign off the bottom and rolling. Any Democratic politician who seeks to fill Manchin’s spot wants on a regular basis he or she can get with a purpose to join with potential constituents throughout the state forward of the elections.

Manchin’s coyness is neither intelligent nor cute. It’s a disservice to the West Virginians he represents. He must make up his thoughts, then let everybody know what he’s determined.