BREAKING: Joe Manchin Clears The Air On 2024 Presidential Run

On Friday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), weighing an independent presidential run for many months after announcing he would not run for reelection in the upper chamber, cleared the air about whether he would take the leap into presidential politics.

During a speech at West Virginia University, Manchin said that he "will not be seeking a third-party run," adding that he would not be involved in any presidential politics in 2024. Manchin has been speculated to explore a presidential bid with "No Labels" after announcing he would not be running again in West Virginia. Manchin had previously pointed to Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) as a potential running mate if he decided to run as an independent or third party candidate.

"I will not be running for reelection to the United States Senate, but what I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together," Manchin said in November. The moderate Democrat has been traveling the country in recent months with his daughter's campaign group, "Americans Together." The organization seeks to limit "political extremism" and attempt to bring a more moderate tone back to the political scene.

Manchin's decision not to run for president came after an extensive period of public service to the Mountain State. Manchin has a long and storied career in West Virginia politics as a former member of the state Senate from 1986 to 1996, the former West Virginia Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005, the former governor from 2005 to 2010, and then serving in the U.S. Senate beginning in 2010.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.

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