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A growing roster of Republican lawmakers are encouraging Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to consider crossing the aisle permanently to join the GOP.
Some left-wing Democrats are imploring the moderate Manchin to leave the party following his opposition to President Biden’s $1.8 trillion Build Back Better spending package, but the senator has not publicly expressed an intention of defecting.
Last week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters that “it would be a great idea” if Manchin were to switch.
MANCHIN SAYS HE OFFERED TO BECOME INDEPENDENT IF DEMS FOUND HIM ‘EMBARRASSING,’ NEVER CONSIDERED JOINING GOP
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who made headlines in 2019 when he left the Democratic Party to join the Republicans, likewise assured Manchin that he would be well-received if he made the move.
“I am not sure whether Senator Manchin will switch parties, but I have no doubt the Republican Party will welcome him with open arms, as they did with me,” Van Drew told Fox News in a statement. “Personally, I hope Senator Manchin does make the switch, and speaking from experience, I can say it was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., echoed the sentiment during a Tuesday interview on Fox News’ “The Story,” saying, “I think it’s pretty rich when Bernie Sanders, who wasn’t even a Democrat at all until six years ago, is criticizing Joe Manchin for not being a good Democrat. So maybe it is time for Sen. Manchin to come over, and we’d welcome him with open arms if he did.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan and plans for future counterterrorism operations on Capitol Hill on Sept. 28, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also told Fox News Digital this week that Manchin would be welcome in the ranks of the GOP but noted…
Source : foxnews
