This talk about Manchin being a conservative is nuts. He's been there reliably for all the big Democratic votes. He's put up no road blocks to the rapid confirmation of liberal judges across the country. He saved progressives in the party from themselves by scaling back the House's Build Back Better bill, which was very poorly designed and would have pushed inflation significantly higher in the short term. His theatrics get annoying, but ideologically Manchin is a pretty generic centrist. Maine should be more than happy to get a Senator like that.
There are no more conservatives in Democratic caucus in Congress anymore (in fact - no more then 1 or 2 in all 99 state legislatures). I began to study US elections in 1972, and anyone, who would make such statement ("Manchin is a conservative"), would be a subject of many laughs then. I don't see why i must change an opinion of him (agree - "generic centrist", may be even "very slightly left of center")
now....
