Manchin also pointed out that many voters worry that a vote for Biden is a vote for his unpopular vice president, Kamala Harris. Biden just turned 81 and questions swirl about his physical health and whether he will finish a full second term. 

But he said, Trump brings his own baggage: a presidency marred with petty feuds often on social media and a desire to move the GOP to the fringes of the political right. GOP contenders like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have attacked Trump’s handling of COVID, runaway spending, failure to build a border wall, and his instigation of the Jan 6, Capitol Hill riot.

Manchin said No Labels will likely make a decision by Super Tuesday, the date in March when a number of states will hold their primaries and the outcome of the Republican nomination will be in sight. 

He said the GOP nomination may be over before then. He said Haley, the new runner-up to Trump, will likely drop out of the race before her home state’s primary in late February if she doesn’t do well in the New Hampshire primary.

Former Gov. Nikki Haley speaks during the third Republican presidential primary debate in Miami, Florida, on Nov. 8, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“I don’t think Nikki will embarrass herself with a loss in her home state” if she doesn’t see a path to the nomination.

If Trump is the likely nominee, then No Labels will have to take a hard look at Biden and whether he will, as he says now, seek re-election. He conceded that Harris is a drag on the ticket and said it’s possible that she could be replaced by former first lady Michele Obama despite whispers that Obama might want to seek the presidency.

“One thing I can tell you, I’m not going to do this as a spoiler,” he said. 

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