Manchin votes with the Democrats 73% of the time and would gain nothing from changing parties. I don't understand all this talk about him switching.
According to the New York Times, former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell voted with the Democrats 78% of the time before switching to the Republicans in 1995.
West Virginia does seem like it is moving to the right at the state level much later than the rest of the non-coastal South, so Manchin becoming a Republican could be a benefit in regard to being more in tune with his state.
While Manchin becoming a Republican doesn't seem highly likely, it isn't necessarily out of the question, especially if the GOP wins the Senate after the midterm elections.
Yeah. Campbell's switch was a head scratcher.
Generally, it would seem that a party switch in the Senate would catch people off guard.
I don't think Shelby was so surprising.
