NRSC Targeting Manchin For Voting For Harry Reid For Majority Leader

This seems useful:

“After lining his campaign war chest with his party bosses’ cash, Manchin is now doubling down on his commitment to join them in rubberstamping President Obama’s liberal, job-killing agenda in the Senate,” Walsh continued. “We look forward to hearing Joe Manchin explain how backing an anti-coal, pro-stimulus, and pro-Obamacare liberal like Harry Reid is ‘putting West Virginia first.’”

The GOP is denying they made an offer to him to switch parties:

Additionally, a Senate Republican leadership aide said GOP leaders made no such offer. Manchin and the Senate GOP aide were reacting to a FoxNews.com story posted earlier in the day. The report indicated that leaders were trying to entice Manchin to switch parties by offering sweeteners, such as support for favored legislation, and that he was considering the offer.

The "favored legislation" included, supposedly, a billion for coal-to-oil development:

According to Fox News, Republicans are trying to tempt Manchin to switch sides by dangling the carrot of a plum committee assignment. Like, let’s just spitball here, perhaps a seat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where Manchin might find a friendly ear for a pet project that has been DOA under the Democratic leadership: a plant to convert coal to diesel fuel.

For now, though, even with the tantalizing prospect of $1 billion in funding for the plant, it’s a no go from Manchin’s corner.

I don't know if I buy this-- either Manchin votes against Obama or else he's in big trouble in 2012. I would have gotten annoyed about the $1 billion boondoggle, except I don't know if the story's even true.

posted by Ace at 06:02 PM

| Access Comments