Progressives routinely accuse Manchin of betraying those who voted him into office; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The reality is that Manchin’s policies and voting habits reflect what the people of West Virginia want. West Virginia is a red state; therefore, it makes sense that a Democratic senator from the state would hold at least some conservative politics.
Popularity amongst Republicans
While the West Virginia Democrat is popular in his home state, he’s also got a fair amount of popularity amongst Republicans as well. Manchin’s already faced several calls to join the GOP, for instance.
In a US Senate that remains evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, every single vote counts.
If it were not for Manchin voting with Republicans on several occasions, the Build Back Better Act would be the law of the land; likewise, the filibuster in the Senate would be a goner, paving the way for Democrats to do far more damage.
Between Manchin’s popularity in his home state and with the Republican Party, he’s got a bright political future indeed.
