MORGANTOWN — It’s still too soon to definitively call the presidential election, but Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., offered some thoughts Friday on what he hopes to see when the dust settles.
His virtual meeting with members of the West Virginia press started a few minutes late because Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton called him right as it was to begin, he said.
The point: “There’s a bunch of us who want to work together on both sides,” he said. “They’re sick and tired of not getting anything accomplished.”
While the numbers are trending away from Trump and toward Biden, Manchin noted GOP gains in the House and the likelihood the GOP will retain the majority in the Senate. “Elections have shown that the American people want moderation and checks and balances,” not extremes and partisanship.
“It’s been a truly unprecedented election,” Manchin said, with more mail-in votes than ever before. “Democracy does take time, but we’ve got make sure very vote is counted.” And the counts have to be certified to assure they’re legal.
While the Trump team, and many on social media are contending massive election fraud in some areas, Manchin commented, “There’s no evidence of fraud that we can see anywhere.” Even GOP-leaning courts are throwing out fraud cases.
Also, he said, the GOP gained down ballot. “You wouldn’t have had that much victory by the Republicans across this country if there had been fraud.”
He reminded the reporters of his September resolution, which passed unanimously, calling for a peaceful transition of power. If Trump loses, he may not concede or give Biden a call, but he hopes Trump will – when the results are clear – put aside his legal challenges and pass the torch peacefully.
Manchin said Biden has pledged to serve as a president for all and Biden understands across-the-aisle deal making. “We’re going to hold his feet to the fire.”
Manchin said he wants to see a change in the law so that any bipartisan bills have to go to the floor in 15-30 days and have an amendment process, not be stuck on the leader’s desk.
He’d like to see Biden begin his term with a national infrastructure program, he said. “The pothole doesn’t have a Democrat or Republican name on it; it’ll bust both your tires.”
What Manchin terms the Washington Democrat party had focused over the last decade on divisive social issues – abortion, limiting gun rights, defunding the police – he said. He doesn’t’ know any Democrats who oppose gun rights, and most own guns. Some limitations, such as on internet sales, may be in order, though.
“I’ve been a pro-life Democrat my entire life and I know most West Virginia Democrats agree with me on pro-life status,” he said.
Early in the Trump administration, Manchin’s name was in the air for energy secretary – the job went to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry – and Manchin fielded a question on what he’d do it he was offered a job in the Biden cabinet. Manchin said he figures Biden is assembling a short list, and he didn’t say no.
“When you’re in public service you want to be in the best place to help your people.” He understands energy policy and he’s ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
He understands the need to balance the economy and the environment, he said, but knows that to be a super power need to be an independent energy nation. “I could bring a balance.” But he hasn’t had any conversations.
The Dominion Post gave Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.VA., a heads up on this story on Thursday but her office didn’t respond to two reminders for comment on Friday.
Later Friday, the state Republican Party issued a statement on the presidential election: “We refuse to accept the outcome of this fraudulent election involving several of the key swing states until all legal votes are counted and all illegal votes are removed from the vote counts. We will also not accept the outcome until the following issues are resolved: every documented case of backdating of ballots, illegal denial of access by poll watchers, and until dead and out of state citizens voting is investigated in several of the key swing states.”
They continued, “This massive voter fraud is invalidating the legal votes of many patriotic United States citizens in several key swing states and we will not stand for it. When we have a fair and certifiable vote count we will be happy to support the legitimate winner. We are nowhere near that point today.”
Tweet David Beard@dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
