[DoodleDawg]

Republican Sen. Mike Lee said he ‘absolutely’ thinks Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin should switch parties on ‘Sunday Night in America’

Manchin isn't an idiot. He knows that if he switches to the Republicans he gets primaried out in 2024. If he stays with the Democrats he has a chance of reelection. A dwindling chance but still a chance.

[Tallguy]

“Manchin isn’t an idiot. He knows that if he switches to the Republicans he gets primaried out in 2024. If he stays with the Democrats he has a chance of reelection. A dwindling chance but still a chance.”

I think the time for Manchin to flip would be after the 2022 election when he is safe for 6 years. Flipping now, he gains very little. If after the election the senate is still evenly divided he is in a position to bargain with the Republican-leaders. Depending what they offer him, he might flip then.

[David]

"Manchin isn't an idiot. He knows that if he switches to the Republicans he gets primaried out in 2024. If he stays with the Democrats he has a chance of reelection. A dwindling chance but still a chance."

With all due respect to your view, that looks to be backwards.

If Manchin runs for reelection as a dem, he doesn't have much chance at getting reelected against an R; on the other hand if he flips to R, he beats anything the Dems have on the bench.

[TexasGator]

As a democrat he wields power and invites to the Whitehouse.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

West Virginia voted almost 70% for President Trump. If Manchin crossed the aisle, no way would he be primaried. Plus he'd have President Trumps backing.

[bwest]

I’m not so sure. Heavily Republican WV voted for him as a democrat. They love him. I think he’ll survive a GOP primary.

[Political Junkie Too]

He knows that if he switches to the Republicans he gets primaried out in 2024.

Why do you think that?

Manchin was a Democrat governor of a red state. When he ran for the Senate, the story was that he was a popular governor, so he had a lot of political capital to be the West Virginia Senator.

The state stayed red. If Manchin stays blue, it will be harder and harder for him to get reelected. If he says that his sentiments have changed with his state, and he's going to switch to Republican, he'd be aligned with West Virginia voters. Then he can play the seniority card and argue that West Virginia would have more influence with him over a rookie Senator.

Finally, Manchin would have to decide for himself whether he'd rather be a blocker to a far-left extremist agenda within his own party, or a shaper of an agenda in a majority party. I'd have to think that the former is wearying on his soul, being a pariah in his own party. If he joins the Republicans in making law instead of blocking law, he'd be in a healthier place personally, and a more rewarding place for his state.

-PJ