While he has been very critical of his former party, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) saw his name being floated around as a potential VP pick for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the favorite to win the Democratic nominee.
It was reported on Monday night that a majority of delegates were in support of Harris, which could make next month’s Democratic National Convention a sweep for the hand-picked replacement from President Joe Biden.
Now, questions swirl about who she could choose to run with her, with Manchin’s name being thrown into the mix.
While talking with CBS on Monday, Manchin had made it clear that he was still planning on retiring when his current term ends and that he would not be looking to mount a presidential campaign.
“I’m not running for office,” Manchin said. “I’m not going to be a candidate for president. I don’t need that in my life.”
Still, he did call for Democrats to speak out and challenge Harris, to ensure the best Democrat was put forth to face off against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.
But while Manchin first made it clear he didn’t want the Democratic nominee, he later answered questions about potentially being a vice president while speaking with CNN.
Manchin made it plain and simple when asked if he would consider running with Harris as her VP, saying, “No, I’m not.”
“It’s a new generation, you don’t want a 76-year-old vice president right now,” he continued.
Manchin was then asked if the nation wants a 76-year-old president, to which he joked that maybe “if he feels like he’s 50.”
Still, he added that he isn’t working with the current vice president.
“I haven’t worked with Kamala at all,” he later added.
Harris has made it clear that she intends to “earn and win” the Democratic nominee, and on Monday, Democrats flocked to support her, including donors who helped her raise more than $100 million in her first day.
“We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win,” Harris said in a statement.
The DNC is scheduled to be held in Chicago from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22.