For the past two decades Joe Manchin has been arguably the most popular politician in West Virginia.
That’s how a Democrat has been able to win as a Governor and U.S. Senator in a state that has turned into one of the reddest in the nation.
But now, Manchin may have just driven the final nail into his own political coffin.
For the length of his political career, Democrat Joe Manchin has played the part of a centrist.
His moderate act led him to high-profile roles as Governor and U.S. Senator from West Virginia.
In fact, at one point, his apparent willingness to work across the aisle and even buck his party leadership made him one of the most popular politicians in the entire country.
However, at the end of the day, he is still a Democrat, he voted for Chuck Schumer for Majority Leader, and more often than not, votes with his party.
Manchin was praised by many on the Right when he became the gum holding up the works of President Joe Biden’s disastrous spending boondoggle, the so-called, “Build Back Better” bill.
However, the Biden administration, Schumer, and even Bill Gates spent months working over Manchin, trying to get him to change his mind.
In the end, Manchin agreed to a some-what scaled-down version of “Build Back Better,” and he – along with Arizona Sen. Krysten Sinema – both voted in favor of the ironically named, “Infrastructure Reduction Act.”
The irony comes from the fact most economists agree the bill actually will increase inflation, not reduce it.
As part of the deal to get his vote, West Virginia was supposed to receive a pipeline that would have created jobs in the state.
However, as they’re known to do, Democrats went back on that part of the deal, remembering that they’re anti-pipelines.
The betrayal by his own party is apt, as many West Virginia voters feel they were betrayed by Manchin.
In fact, the latest polling out of the Mountain State shows Manchin’s political career may be over.
2024 West Virginia Senate Race:
Jim Justice (R) 47% (+15)
Joe Manchin (D-Inc) 32%
.
Patrick Morrisey (R) 50% (+14)
Joe Manchin (D-Inc) 36%
.
Alex Mooney (R) 45% (+7)
Joe Manchin (D-Inc) 38%Triton Polling & Research, 762 RV, 8/24-26https://t.co/XeZF69VZo1
— Political Polls (@Politics_Polls) September 8, 2022
Manchin is safe in the 2022 midterms, but he will be up for re-election in 2024.
Triton Polling & Research took an early look at hypothetical 2024 U.S. Senate matchups in the state – and the results aren’t looking good for the incumbent.
According to the survey of West Virginia voters, Manchin now trails every one of his most likely 2024 opponents.
The results aren’t even close.
Current West Virginia Governor, Republican Jim Justice – a friend of former President Donald Trump – holds the biggest lead over the incumbent Democrat, with a 15-point advantage.
The state’s Republican Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey, fares almost as well in the hypothetical head-to-head, leading Manchin by 14-points.
And according to the poll, if the vote were held today, Manchin would be upended by Republican Rep. Alex Mooney, by 7-points.
Manchin now only scores 26% approval in his home state, with 66% of West Virginians saying they disapprove of their Senator.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
