Sen. Joe Manchin Addresses Rumors Of Harris Challenge, Calls For 'Mini Primary'

Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) said Monday that he will not run as a presidential candidate against Vice President Kamala Harris, though he wants to see a “mini primary.”

“I am not going to be a candidate for president. I am a candidate for, basically speaking for, the middle of this country,” he told CBS Mornings following reports that he was considering re-registering as a Democrat to challenge Harris.

In a separate interview with “CNN This Morning,” Manchin added that running as Harris’ vice president is also off the table for him.

“It’s a new generation, you don’t want a 76-year-old vice president right now,” he said. He later added: “I haven’t worked with Kamala at all.”

Though he won’t run against Harris, he said he hopes other candidates are considered for the top role.

“I think a lot of people would like to see a mini primary,” Manchin said in his CBS interview. “That’s the process — find out if you have the strongest candidate, whether it could be Kamala or whoever else.”

Manchin added that he thinks Harris is too far left and hopes that she will move toward the middle.