16% of voters open to considering Joe Manchin for President, says poll.

Public⁣ Dissatisfaction and⁣ Potential⁤ Threat to Biden’s Reelection

Nearly‍ one in‌ five voters would consider voting for Sen. Joe​ Manchin (D., W.Va.) as a third-party presidential candidate, according to⁢ a new​ poll, highlighting both public dissatisfaction with the ⁢two parties and ⁤a‌ potential ⁢threat to President Joe Biden’s reelection.

Fusion Option and Manchin-Huntsman Ticket

The poll, released Thursday by Monmouth University, found ‍three in 10 voters ​would consider backing a third-party⁤ “fusion” option with a Democrat and Republican on the ticket. Sixteen percent would consider backing a ticket‍ that featured Manchin as ⁢the presidential candidate and former Republican ⁢Utah governor⁤ Jon Huntsman ⁤as the‌ vice presidential ‍candidate.

Just 2 ⁤percent of voters would ‍ definitely support that ticket, while 14​ percent probably would.

Earlier this month, ⁣Manchin teased a potential run on ⁤a “unity ticket” with Huntsman at a town hall put‍ on by the centrist⁣ group No Labels.

“I’ve ​never spoiled a race,” Manchin said. “If ‍I get into the race, I’m going to ⁣win.”

Threat to Biden’s Reelection

A third-party candidate ‌could threaten Biden’s hopes‍ for⁣ reelection. ‌A poll conducted last⁤ month found that if Cornel⁤ West, a ​socialist professor who supports race-based reparations, ⁤makes it on the ballot, he⁣ would garner ‌6 percent of the vote, which could take enough of Biden’s support to let former president Donald ​Trump⁢ win.

Polling from earlier this year found just 37‍ percent⁣ of Democrats want Biden to serve four more years. Seventy-eight percent of⁣ voters said they think Biden⁣ should not run again.