Sen. Joe Manchin became greatly concerned over Joe Biden’s standing after the president’s debate performance last week — so much so that he considered voicing his worries in a Sunday national TV interview before being convinced otherwise, a person familiar with his thinking confirmed to POLITICO.
In the days following the debate, Manchin (I-W.Va.) called a number of key allies to share his concerns over the president’s performance and his belief that the American people needed to hear from Biden directly.
By the time Manchin decided he wasn’t going to do the Sunday show appearance, he received a call from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who heard about his concerns with Biden’s performance.
Manchin’s office declined to comment. Manchin’s scheduled TV interview and concerns were first reported by The Washington Post. The Senate is in recess until next week.
The Biden campaign also declined to comment on Manchin’s reaction to the president’s debate performance.
It’s a bit of an odd move. Manchin’s remarks wouldn't have damaged the president in West Virginia, which is going for Trump anyway. He also wouldn’t have said anything worse than what Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said about the debate, which is included in the Politico piece. Whitehouse said he was “horrified” by the spectacle.
It seems like Manchin was muzzled for nothing, as we’ve seen the dam break in this story. We have top donors, Biden officials, White House aides, and intelligence officials weighing in on Biden’s mental health. The leaks are damning and, for now, seemingly endless, which circles back to why the media didn’t report on these growing concerns for months.
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