McConnell intensifies courting of Manchin to join GOP

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell continued a public campaign to convince Sen. Joe Manchin to join Republican ranks after the centrist Democrat announced this week he would not support spending legislation comprising President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda, citing its price tag.

The West Virginia Democrat has previously dismissed speculation he would switch parties, calling a report this fall that he would leave the Democratic Party to become an independent “bulls***.” After announcing his opposition to the Build Back Better Act, Manchin told a West Virginia radio host he hopes there is still a place for “fiscally responsible and socially compassionate” Democrats.