He’s not with her?
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) told CNN Tuesday that Democrats need a presidential candidate in 2020 who is a “realist and centrist,” adding that his state, which voted for Trump in 2016, won’t accept “extremes.”
CNN’s Jim Sciutto then brought up Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who kicked off her 2020 campaign in earnest with a swing through Iowa over the weekend.
“Elizabeth would have a hard time in West Virginia, she really would,” Manchin said. “But she’s welcome to come down. Maybe she can change her positions. These are all my friends. I’ve worked with everybody, from the right to the left, I’m able to work with everybody. But I want them to see the real world, to see real West Virginia, to see real rural America, to see people who really get up and work hard and don’t ask for anything.”
Watch:
Sen. Manchin says Elizabeth Warren would have a tough time in West Virginia pic.twitter.com/9iGr8oXn84
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) January 8, 2019
That says more about the people of West Virginia than Senator Warren.
I don’t agree. She is very authentic and genuine. That plays well EVERYWHERE.
Manchin doesn’t think city people get up early and work hard? Why are rural Americans always cast as real Americans?
A Warren presidency would be extremely beneficial to the people of WV and other states whose workers and industries justifiably need assistance adapting to the 21st century economy. She would make sure of it.
I think any Democrat is DOA in West Virginia right now, so if Manchin wants to say stuff to shore up his support in-state, whatever. That said, if it’s purely for local consumption (which I believe it is), national outlets should think about ignoring it.