16% of voters open to Manchin in third-party run: survey

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.