Joe Manchin Says He Will Stump for Susan Collins: ‘There’s Not a Better Person’

Screenshot via CNBC.

Former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) chatted about the upcoming midterm elections on CNBC’s Squawk Box Monday, saying that he had not officially “endorsed” any candidates but would hit the campaign trail for Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

Manchin declined to run for re-election in 2024, and switched from a Democrat to Independent before his last term was up, although he still remained a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and other independent senators, so he could keep his committee seniority.

Since leaving the Senate, Manchin has been criticizing the two-party system and voicing support for more independent candidates.

Monday morning, Manchin joined the Squawk Box panel and spoke at length about several candidates running for U.S. Senate.

Co-host Joe Kernen asked Manchin about former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), who is running in Michigan against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

“You wanted Rogers in Michigan to say he doesn’t like the tariffs,” said Kernen. “Have you endorsed Rogers?”

“No, I’ve not endorsed anybody,” said Manchin.

“How can you not endorse him versus this other –?” asked Kernen.

“No, Mike Rogers is a personal friend of mine,” said Manchin. “I like Mike Rogers. Okay. From that standpoint, I think Mike –”

“Do you think you’re OK with El-Sayed becoming senator?” asked Kernen.

“No,” Manchin swiftly replied.

“Oh, you’re not okay with it?” said Kernen. “So then endorse Mike Rogers.”

“Well, no, no — I do support Mike Rogers. I think Mike Rogers is a good person. I think he’ll do a great job.”

“Do you support other Republicans?” asked Kernen.

“I support Susan Collins,” Manchin continued. “I’m going to — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski. These are basically independent, free thinking Republicans — not crazy, not completely crazy right or completely crazy left.”

Later in the segment, Manchin spoke more about supporting Collins.

“I want public servants who want to be public servants,” said Manchin. “I don’t want public servants who want to go for rich and fame and fortune, and they don’t want to serve. They’re afraid to make a decision.”

“Well, you are backing some Republicans –” said Kernen.

“Oh, I’m backing whoever’s the best candidate right now,” said Manchin. “Susan Collins. I’m going to go campaign for Susan Collins — there’s not a better person.”

Kernen interjected to declare that Collins “is a national treasure,” adding a “full disclosure” that his daughter was on her campaign staff, and then openly questioning “how Maine could even consider” voting her out.

“You lose a Susan Collins of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate,” Manchin agreed. “Basically, a person you can talk to, wants to do the right thing all the time. Okay, now everybody says, ‘Oh, she doesn’t do this, doesn’t speak up.’ Susan is always in there, always in the trenches. And when you need someone to work with, I call Susan, I call Lisa, I got Mark Warner, I got different people I can sit down with all the time and talk to. And those are the people I always did, and I’m going to do everything I can to help them.”

Collins is facing an unusual re-election challenge after the original Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, dropped out after a staggering series of scandals, including a Nazi Totenkopf tattoo he later had covered, offensive Reddit posts, accusations he was sexting women other than his wife, and then, most disturbingly, on-the-record accusations from two of his ex-girlfriends that he had sexually assaulted them.

After caucus meetings held by the Maine Democratic Party and a vote, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson was tapped to take Platner’s place on the November ballot. Shortly after Jackson officially became the nominee, polls showed him with a slight lead over Collins. Another more recent poll this month by CNN showed Jackson again slightly ahead of Collins but within the margin of error.

Watch the clip above via CNBC.

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