How would Joe Manchin do if he ran for president?

[Renew Deal]

Joe Manchin is an enigma to most people because he wins in WV by margins often equal to many republicans. Manchin just won with 49% in a state that Hillary lost with 27%. To be fair, Hillary put herself in an antagonistic position with WV, so her number is below the floor.

But Manchin seems to be a guy that can convert people to his side. I know that he is anti-choice, but could he win? Does he have a base he can start from?

[dogman]

1. I don't think enough GOPers have switched Parties yet.

[monmouth4]

2. When I hear the term "weak tea" he comes to mind..n/t

[edhopper]

3. Dems don't win

by being Republican lite.

[MrsCoffee]

4. No.

[Polly Hennessey]

5. No.

Mrs. Coffee and I agree, so that settles it.

[Renew Deal]

6. That doesn't answer the question

Could he win? Could he convert people to his side?

[hedda_foil]

22. No. That's N.O. He would NOT.

[Polly Hennessey]

29. No. Again, no.

[tblue37]

38. No. Most Dems would vote 3rd part or not at all in the general, though he

wouldn't get past the primary to run in the general anyway. And Republicans are mostly too tribal to vote for a Democrat, so even while alienating Democrats, he wouldn't attract most Republicans to vote for someone with a "D" after their name on the ballot.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

7. His NARAL rating is only 72%

[brooklynite]

8. "I know that he is anti-choice"

Do you? Or do you just reflexively assume that?

Anti-abortion group hits Joe Manchin with new ad campaign

https://www.axios.com/joe-manchin-anti-abortion-group-ad-campaign-5779cfda-c087-4d47-a424-120445b2ae7d.html

Anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List is launching an advertising campaign targeting Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on his past votes to fund Planned Parenthood.

The big picture: Conservative movement leaders have long believed that Manchin — who says he personally opposes abortion — is vulnerable on this issue in deep red West Virginia. Meanwhile, Manchin has sought to court conservatives in the lead up to the midterms, including meeting with Breitbart’s editorial team.

The details: SBA has allocated $785,000 toward television and radio ads that will roll out Saturday. The videos repeatedly show clips of Manchin saying he is in favor of funding Planned Parenthood.

According to Planned Parenthood's count, Manchin has voted against banning abortions after 20 weeks, restoring funding for the organization, and restricting minors' access to abortion. He has also voted in favor of restricting access to private health care plans that cover abortions, employers covering birth control costs, and limiting provider access to a Title X family planning program.

Being "pro-life" is NOT the same thing as being "anti-choice"

[jcgoldie]

9. Uhmm...

Yes waitress I’d like to order the shit sandwich with just a small helping of shit on it please... I’m not real hungry.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

53. So just a small scoop of shit then?

[Dem_4_Life]

10. No he wouldn't do well.

I don't see him inspiring people to bring them to the polls. Just overall NO.

[Hortensis]

11. Jim Webb is what comes to my mind.

Of course, Webb ran almost solely on white male resentment. He tried and failed to compete with the populist Bernie Sanders and Trump campaigns for those notorious white working men who'd OD'd on too much equality and resented weakening of their special privileges.

Whatever Manchin ran on, though, I think he'd do similarly poorly. Most Democrats definitely are not about to move right. And very few independent (ex-Pub) conservatives are actually voting Democrat, and most of those would have to register Democrat to be able to vote in the primaries.

[Renew Deal]

14. Webb has no charisma

But I generally agree. I have doubts that he can spark devotion with the more activist elements of the party. That said, he could make waves in IA, SC, and states around WV.

[Hortensis]

15. So right about Webb. But if Manchin could

"make waves" in IA, he would get some media attention that'd carry him a bit. As said, generally agree.

[SharonClark]

39. He wouldn't 'make waves' in Iowa

Iowa Dems are liberal and Manchin is, as a previous poster wrote, 'weak tea'.
Saw him on Morning Joe this morning and he hemmed and hawed around when Geist asked him if the Trump lied. Geist finally gave up getting a straight answer out of him.

See post 25 for details.

[Hortensis]

55. Bless his heart. :) Good to hear your viewpoint and

that Iowa Dems are solid. I remember the enthusiasm in the 2016 Democratic primary exit polls. Even Sanders voters were, when specifically asked, also 90% happy with HRC as their second choice. No interest in the "weak tea" that a lot of Democratic candidates were advised to offer to get reelected in the 2014 midterms then, either.

[WeekiWater]

48. Webb has the best thoughts when it comes to prison and criminal justice reform.

He has written a lot of op eds on the topic. He puts himself out there.

https://parade.com/104227/senatorjimwebb/why-we-must-fix-our-prisons/

[Act_of_Reparation]

12. President of what?

The country?

[EffieBlack]

16. LOL!

[hatrack]

13. He would lose . . . .

.

[EffieBlack]

17. As Harry Truman supposedly said

"Give people a choice between a Republican and a Democrat pretending to be a Republican and the people will pick the real thing every time."

[MoonRiver]

18. I can't think of a worse candidate. Ugh.

[Ace Rothstein]

19. I'd stay home if he was our nominee.

Nominating Joe Manchin would probably result in a Trump landslide.

[bigtree]

20. ugh

[MontanaMama]

21. Manchun comes off as insincere.

He’d make a decent used car salesman imo.

[Takket]

23. He would not survive a Dem primary

[crazycatlady]

24. I don't think he'd make it past Iowa

He's good for his state. He's the best Democrat we're going to get out of West Virginia in at least a decade. Should he give up that seat, it flips red.

He doesn't bode well with the national base. That and he has some family baggage as well (his daughter is the CEO that raised the prices of life saving medications over 1000%).

[Autumn]

25. Terrible, judge for your self. I wouldn't support him, he's fine where he is.

Joe Manchin Goes Full George Costanza Trying to Avoid Calling Out Trump: It’s Not a Lie, ‘If He Believes it’

https://www.mediaite.com/online/joe-manchin-goes-full-george-costanza-trying-to-avoid-calling-out-trump-its-not-a-lie-if-he-believes-it/

[SWBTATTReg]

57. It's not a lie if you believe it!? What?! Give me a break!!! How stupid do you think we are? nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. Not well.

[Freethinker65]

27. he might be able to win WV. hahaha

[Firestorm49]

28. He should run as a Republican.

[TeamPooka]

30. He would drop out before the first primary for lack of funds

[DFW]

31. Of the numbers Martin O'Malley got in the 2016 primaries

I think Manchin would manage to get at least 10% of the numbers O'Malley got. Maybe even 15%.

[shanny]

32. fookin' awful

why vote for a pseudo Republican when you can have a real one? (h/t Harry Truman).

[obamanut2012]

43. Seriously, Flake or Romney would probably be better

And, Flake and Romney SUCK, and I would never vote for them.

[shanny]

49. exactly--on all counts

[The Truth Is Here]

33. How did Gary Webb do?

Use that as a measuring stick.

[Initech]

34. I don't know.

I do feel like we're so desperate to rid ourselves of this nightmare administration that we'll run pretty much anybody at this point, I think we need to take a step back and analyze what we really need as far as a president and administration goes.

[bullwinkle428]

35. Manchin is as big a snake-oil salesman on coal as Trump is. I realize WHY

the people of WV are desperate to believe this. I think that most of the residents of the other 49 states are willing to view him with a more objective eye.

[beachbum bob]

36. manchin as far out of the "norm" for democrats as Warren...

neither would win Illinois

[shanny]

41. lol

[marybourg]

37. In which party?

[sarcasmo]

40. 😂😂😂😂

[obamanut2012]

42. I would never vote for him

Anti women, anti gay, etc.

[LiberalFighter]

44. He is not worthy to be president.

[peggysue2]

45. He would lose. Terrible idea!

Yes, we're desperate to get rid of the Trumpster but running a candidate like Manchin would only ensure that Trump wins in 2020. Why vote for a pale version of the Trumpski when you can get the real thing, again?

Manchin is the most Democratic candidate we can expect in West Virginia at the moment, certainly better than having the seat go to the GOP. However, Manchin is someone who can support the delusion that King Coal will make a comeback, overlook the environmental and health devastation that the coal industry has wreaked and pretend that Republicans and their failed policies are not all bad.

As in historically, tragically and life-threateningly bad.

Manchin would never make it out of the primaries, let alone a General Election

[WeekiWater]

46. Republicans nationwide would not vote for him...

When the other side of the ticket actually has someone with an R behind their name. Neither would a lot of Democrats, for good reason. Manchin would loose big, IMO. Then again, Manchin wouldn't win a national Democratic Primary against Charlie Crist, IMO.

[TheFarseer]

47. What's hilarious is

According to the RW media if he wins the nomination, he’s to the left of Mao.

[JI7]

50. he wins by taking very right wing positions in a very right wing state

[Proud Liberal Dem]

51. Total non-starter

Since he's a Democratic Senator in a state that would just as easily go for a hardcore right-wing Republican, I'll tolerate him. There's absolutely no way that he would appeal to the broad Democratic Party constituency. I can guarantee that with near absolute certainty.

[book_worm]

52. Portions of the Democratic base would just throw up their arms and say, "forget it"

I don't see students or African Americans (among others) getting excited to vote for Manchin.

[Mike Nelson]

54. He could not run...

… as a Democrat and win the nomination. He would not win the primaries.

[JustAnotherGen]

56. He couldn't win in the big money states

I would have a very hard time trusting someone who gave a green light to the SALT cap.

[marble falls]

58. Can we not be writting off any Demodrats just now, please? Someone primary him and win ...

first. We need to remember how slim some of the margins were in our sweep in the House. And how we need to win as many Senate Seats as we can.