As rumors spread about Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia launching a bid for the White House, a reporter asked if he still identifies as a Democrat.
Sen. Manchin didn’t directly answer the question, instead saying he identifies as “American.”
In an interview with Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Manchin’s political future and party were discussed.
“I identify as an American,” Manchin said. “I’m American.”
The moderate senator’s term ends in 2024 and there is much speculation in the media about his plans for the future. He has said he will not run for governor, but is dodging questions about a presidential run.
“My main concern is how can we bring this country together?” Manchin said. “How do we make it work? How do we make Democrats, Republicans, Americans again, and not just party affiliates?
In December, Manchin said he had no intention of switching to independent but suggested that might change in the future.
“I don’t know how you can be more independent than I am,” he said, according to a report by ABC News. “I see all these things, I always see all these things. But I have no intention of doing anything now. Let me do something later. I can’t tell you what the future will bring.
The senator has long drawn ire from Democrats for refusing to cave to his every whim.
“I’m not a Washington Democrat, I don’t know what to tell you,” Manchin said. “But I have a lot of friends who aren’t Washington Republicans, and if Washington is independent, like I said, more comfortable, you know we’ll see what happens there, we’ll have to see. People were registering more independent candidates than any other party. They’re sick and tired of it.
