"Sen. Joe Manchin Puts Speculation to Rest, Confirms He Will Not Run for President"

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin's decision not to run for president comes as a relief to the Biden campaign, as his potential independent bid was seen as a threat to splitting the Democratic vote and potentially delivering the White House to the Republicans. With dissatisfaction towards both major parties, there is fertile ground for an independent or third-party campaign, but Manchin's age and political moderation may have limited his appeal. The centrist group No Labels is still considering fielding a presidential candidate, and with several independent candidates already running, the 2024 campaign could still see an electoral wild card.