WASHINGTON – Sen. Joe Manchin declined to answer Sunday whether he will support President Joe Biden in the 2024 bid and did not say whether he wants Democrats to keep control of the House.
“Everyone is worried about the elections. That’s the problem,” said Manchin, DW.Va., when asked by ABC’s Jonathan Karl if he would support Biden if he ran again in 2024.
He added that he will not go into the next two election cycles, but instead will focus on the current president.
Manchin, who was asked several times by Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday if he expected Democrats to keep control of the House and Senate, responded by saying “people are sick and tired of politics.”
Democrats have a slim margin in the House and are expected to lose control in the November election. The Senate is evenly divided between the parties.
When Todd asked Manchin if he cared about the results of this year’s election, Manchin said he respects anyone he has to work with and he respects the states they represent.
“Whatever the voters choose,” Manchin said. “I’ve always taken the approach of whoever sends me, that’s their representative and I respect them. And I respect the state for the people they send, and I do my best to work with them, to do what’s best for my country.”
Manchin, who is facing re-election in 2024, has opposed some key parts of Biden’s proposal. domestic agenda by refusing to back the Build Back Better social spending billcalling it too expensive.
However, last week he and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to a bill that includes some climate change provisions and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
Will Sinema support the bill?: The Democrats’ deal with Sen. Joe Manchin raises a new question: What about Sen. Kyrsten Sinema?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Manchin refuses to answer if he will endorse Biden in 2024