Could Texas elect a Joe Manchin type Democrat

[DaleCooper]

I actually doubt, especially since such a candidate would bleed support from liberals and progressives. He'd lose more on that end than winning a few moderately conservative voters.

The American left is not what it was back in 2016 or even 2020 where they were suicidal and eager to let Republicans win as often as possible. Roe v Wade changed that and finally made these idiots realize that things actually can get worse for them. The Democratic candidate would have to be someone really bad (literally Liz Cheney or something) for a sizable number of left-of-center voters to roll over and let Republicans win.

[DaleCooper]

I actually doubt, especially since such a candidate would bleed support from liberals and progressives. He'd lose more on that end than winning a few moderately conservative voters.

The American left is not what it was back in 2016 or even 2020 where they were suicidal and eager to let Republicans win as often as possible. Roe v Wade changed that and finally made these idiots realize that things actually can get worse for them. The Democratic candidate would have to be someone really bad (literally Liz Cheney or something) for a sizable number of left-of-center voters to roll over and let Republicans win.

I wish I shared your optimism.

I am not optimistic. The left is just clearly less vulnerable to suicidal third party crap than it was 4-8 years ago. I don't know if you followed the absolute brain rot cancer that was the progressive movement during that time, but they were literally celebrating Republicans beating people like Bill Nelson or Claire McCaskill because they were "no better than Republicans" and constantly accusing any Democratic candidate of being a neoliberal who didn't earn their vote if he didn't endorse specific Bernie Bro slogans like Medicare for All. That stuff has been declining for about four years now, and it really tanked hard after Dobbs. Leftwing people don't want Republicans to appoint anti-abortion judges or people that support "trans genocide" or other conservative agendas that they're worried about. It's the center and aimless swing voters who can't find the USA on a map that will go third party next year.