The Daily Mail was breathless in their Tuesday report that Governor Joe Manchin may run for a national office – and even the presidency – one day in the future. Of course, his ambition and political posturing is old news, but the Daily Mail breathlessly reported his supposed position on the cusp of intergalactic fame.
As popular as he may be in West Virginia, Governor Joe Manchin does not have a chance against national voters who mark their ballots with their eyes open.
I’m not saying the average West Virginia voter is ignorant; they are simply biased to the point of self-destruction. Instead of kicking out Democrats responsible for the economic squalor pervading the state, the average West Virginian “pulls the rooster’s tail” at the urging of Democratic Chairman Nick Casey and their union boss.
Governor Joe Manchin is governor today because of his charm and the “D” behind his name – that and the state media practically drools when he enters the room. Subject Manchin to the serious vetting of an unimpressed national press and there’s no mo’ MoJo.
Democratic Chairman Nick Casey even admitted that his charm and looks are the best thing Manchin has going for him. “He’s tall, he’s handsome, he’s a very good communicator,” Casey said. As a high-ranking Democratic staffer once told me, in West Virginia, “jocks” beat “brains” every time.
Manchin’s best bet is to stay inside the confines of West Virginia. Any position between Governor and United States Senator is open; why ruin his chances with the rest of the nation who knows a tinhorn when they see one?
Besides, if Manchin ran on a Presidential ticket, I doubt his staff could keep him from imploding. He has already shown indiscretion last year when things were not going his way in the Legislature. The only thing that saved him was the media’s lack of interest in writing a negative story. Put Manchin under serious pressure and he’ll maintain his composure as well as Dallas quarterback Tony Romo held onto the last-second field goal snap that cost them the game in the 2006 playoffs.
West Virginia’s political climate will always be an anomaly to the rest of the nation. To win, all you have to be is Democrat; to lose, all you have to be is Republican. Outside of Brigadoon, Manchin will find he has to play by the standards of the real world.
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Comments
Good piece!
Also in “shock and awe,” are many GOP members of the legislature.
I clearly remember how many “Ooooooh, Aaaaaah, he’s got such Republican ideas” that I heard as he took office. Some are still in awe.
WVGOP legislators need someone to remind them on a daily basis that Joe Manchin IS A DEMOCRAT!
He is a consummate smoozer. He “courts” everyone and charms the insecure narcissists into his “magic circle.” But, as you say, he’s really a fraud.
When the WVGOP figures out how to get back to basics and demonstrate the virtues of frugality, hard work, honesty, private property, individual freedom, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), rugged-individualism, and self-responsibility, we might be able to wean the “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately” crowd off the socialist teat.
In the meantime, be happy with your soon-to-be next US Senator, Joe Mangician.
This news comes on the heals of a return from the National Governors Association meeting with the president. I saw some raw footage of the meetings and spied Governor Manchin. (It’s true, he does have the looks of a jock, but his eyes are just as vacant.)
I suspected his wheels were turning when he saw how relatively small that group of people is.
He probably sat there the whole time working the angles instead of bringing his state’s concerns before the president. I’m not surprised this idea of a run is in WV media now.
After seeing the president, he probably wanted to test the idea.