Manchin Won’t Endorse Harris Over Her Support for Ending Filibuster

Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia has declared that he will not support Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign after her recent comments regarding the filibuster. Harris had expressed a desire to eliminate the filibuster as a means to codify abortion rights, a statement that has drawn sharp criticism from Manchin.

During a CNN interview, Manchin, who identifies as an independent after leaving the Democratic Party in May, voiced his disapproval of Harris’s position on the legislative rule. “Shame on her,” he stated, emphasizing that the filibuster is crucial to maintaining democracy. He described it as the “Holy Grail of democracy,” arguing that it facilitates dialogue and collaboration among senators.

The filibuster requires a supermajority of 60 votes to end debate on legislation, allowing for a simple majority vote afterward. Manchin made a bold statement, suggesting that eliminating the filibuster would transform the Senate into “the House on steroids,” contrasting the Senate’s more deliberative nature with the House’s straightforward majority rule.

Manchin’s criticism is particularly noteworthy given that he previously praised Harris’s campaign initiatives and her recent shifts in energy policy. He stated that his endorsement of her campaign would not occur, indicating that her stance on the filibuster is contrary to what he believes is best for the country. “That ain’t going to happen,” he asserted, emphasizing that the matter is larger than any individual’s ideology. “My country is more important to me than any one person or any one person’s ideology,” he added, describing the elimination of the filibuster as potentially destructive to the nation.

Harris’s comments came in light of her interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, where she called for the filibuster’s end to reinstate the protections that were lost when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. She argued that removing the filibuster is necessary to enact laws that safeguard reproductive freedom.

Despite having worked together in the Senate from 2017 to 2021, where both served on the Intelligence Committee, a rift has emerged between the two lawmakers. Manchin has often aligned himself with a more conservative approach, demonstrating a significant divergence from many of his Democratic colleagues, especially regarding energy issues.

In August, Manchin commended Harris for her stance against a fracking ban, which was a notable shift from her previous position in 2019 when she opposed fracking. He expressed hope that she might reconsider her views on the filibuster as well, recalling her earlier opposition during a 2019 CNN town hall where she also supported scrapping the filibuster to advance the Green New Deal.

As the political landscape shifts, Manchin’s decision not to support Harris complicates her campaign efforts. With just months remaining before elections, Manchin’s refusal highlights the ongoing tension within Democratic ranks, especially from more centrist figures like him. Having chosen not to seek reelection this year, Manchin’s seat is anticipated to lean towards the Republican Party in the upcoming November elections.

The Harris campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment on Manchin’s statements. As political dynamics continue to evolve, the implications of this rift could reverberate through the Democratic Party as they prepare for the electoral challenges ahead.

Source: Business Insider