Outgoing West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin declined to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president over her recent calls to end the filibuster in order to pass a federal law creating a right to abortion.
During a Tuesday radio interview, Harris expressed interest in nixing the filibuster in order to pass abortion legislation.
Manchin, a former Democrat who switched his party affiliation to independent in May, warned that ending the filibuster, which requires a 60-vote majority to move legislation through the Senate, would be detrimental to the United States' way of handling politics.
“Shame on her,” said Manchin while speaking with CNN. “She knows the filibuster is the Holy Grail of democracy. It’s the only thing that keeps us talking and working together. If she gets rid of that, then this would be the House on steroids.”
When asked if he would endorse Harris' campaign, Manchin asserted: "That ain't going to happen."
“I think that basically can destroy our country, and my country is more important to me than any one person or any one person’s ideology," he added. "I think it’s the most horrible thing.” BREAKING: Joe Manchin just said he can't endorse Kamala Harris after she promised to remove the Senate filibuster to pass a national law enshrining abortion into federal law
"SHAME ON HER!" “She knows the filibuster is the Holy Grail of democracy. It’s the only thing that keeps… pic.twitter.com/EmMwnhasG0
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 24, 2024
“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe,” Harris said during her Tuesday interview with Wisconsin Public Radio. “And get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.”
Other Democrats, including Washington Sen. Patty Murray, have also expressed interest in eliminating the filibuster to pass abortion legislation.
“I am confident that many of our colleagues will do it exactly as Vice President Harris said, which is to make sure we restore the rights of Roe to every woman in this country,” Murray said.
Similar to Manchin, March for Life President Jeanne Mancini also warned that eliminating the filibuster to pass abortion legislation was "totally out of touch with mainstream America." “Harris’ extreme record on the issue of abortion should frighten even pro-choice voters, not to mention vulnerable mothers who face unexpected pregnancies,” said Mancini. “She is clear about her support for unlimited abortion, but now she’s calling for the elimination of the filibuster in order to advance the most radical abortion policy the United States has ever seen and one which is totally out of touch with mainstream America.” Last week, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has historically endorsed Democratic presidential candidates, declined to endorse either Harris or former President Donald Trump this November, a feat which has not occurred since 1996.
