By Jarrett Renshaw
(Reuters) – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat from West Virginia, announced on Friday that he will not run for president after months of flirting with a campaign that threatened to complicate the 2024 presidential race.
Manchin made the announcement during a speech at West Virginia University billed as “The Future of American Politics.”
Manchin, who is not seeking reelection this year, fueled speculation for months that he could enter the presidential race as an independent or third-party candidate.
He has had talks with No Labels, a centrist group that has been looking into fielding a possible centrist ticket.
Democrats feared a Manchin presidential bid would peel off moderate voters as they look to a likely rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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