Complicated state politics may lead to one Democrat supporting Trump in 2020.
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin did not rule out endorsing Trump for reelection, telling a reporter he’s not going to “rule anything out.”
“I don’t rule anything out. I really don’t rule anything out,” Manchin told Politico. “I’m always going to be for what’s best for my country. Everybody can change. Maybe the president will change, you know? Maybe that uniter will come out, versus the divider.”
Manchin joined the unanimous Democratic coalition in the vote to convict the president but acknowledged he has questions to answer from voters in his deep-red Republican state. “I owe it to them. Hell yes, I’m going back home to do town halls,” he said.
The president lashed out at Manchin after he voted to remove him from office, dubbing him “Joe Munchkin.”
“They are really mad at Senator Joe Munchkin in West Virginia. He couldn’t understand the Transcripts. Romney could, but didn’t want to!” the president tweeted.
They are really mad at Senator Joe Munchkin in West Virginia. He couldn’t understand the Transcripts. Romney could, but didn’t want to!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2020
“I don’t know where he got the ‘munchkin.’ I think I’m a little bit bigger than he is — taller,” the centrist Democrat told CNN’s John Berman on New Day in response. Manchin said Trump’s impeachment defense team made arguments that put the powers of the presidency “above the law,” adding that he wished the Senate held a “fair trial.”
The GOP-led Senate voted to acquit Trump on two charges despite Republican Utah Sen. Mitt Romney joining with Democrats to vote in favor of the abuse of power charge.
