Manchin not ruling out endorsing Trump reelection

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is not ruling out endorsing President Trump’s reelection campaign, even after voting to convict him in the Senate’s impeachment trial. 

“I don’t rule anything out. I really don’t rule anything out,” Manchin said in an interview with Politico. “I’m always going to be for what’s best for my country. Everybody can change. Maybe the president will change, you know? Maybe that uniter will come out, versus the divider.” 

Manchin has faced a barrage of criticism from the White House over his vote to convict Trump on two articles of impeachment after earlier speculation the red-state Democrat might go against his party and vote for acquittal.

“They are really mad at Senator Joe Munchkin in West Virginia. He couldn’t understand the Transcripts,” Trump tweeted Sunday. 

They are really mad at Senator Joe Munchkin in West Virginia. He couldn’t understand the Transcripts. Romney could, but didn’t want to!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2020

Manchin has bucked party lines in some high-profile votes, including to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in moves that have won him some plaudits from conservative circles. However, Trump still made unseating him a top priority in Manchin’s 2018 midterm campaign. 

Manchin narrowly won reelection that year by about 3 points, earning just under 50 percent of the vote.

“It’s not different when he wanted to have lunch the week after I was elected. And he said: ‘I knew we couldn’t beat you.’ And I said: ‘It wasn’t for lack of trying.’ Boom, it’s over, let it go. I did. I’m asking him to do the same thing I did,” Manchin told Politico. “He tried to remove me.”

Manchin’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking further guidance on the possibility of an endorsement for Trump.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Politico he has urged Trump to not completely shut off Manchin, noting the West Virginia Democrat is still a possible vote of support for some aspects of the White House’s agenda.   

Trump “doesn’t believe it today. But there will come a time when we need Joe tomorrow,” Graham said. “We still have a lot to do here. Prescription drugs and a lot of things are gonna be right on the cusp of 60 votes.”