The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) issued the following statement regarding West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) announcement this morning that he intends to break his pledge to serve a full, four-year term and will instead run for the U.S. Senate.

“By breaking his promise to serve a full term as Governor even if a Senate vacancy existed, Joe Manchin has made clear that his own political self-interests are more important than keeping his word to the people of West Virginia. 

“It’s also clear that, if elected, Joe Manchin will be a loyal rubberstamp for President Obama’s reckless spending agenda in Washington. During just the last 18 months, Joe Machin has endorsed the President’s government health care bill and he advocated for the massive stimulus boondoggle, which has failed to create the jobs that he and the President both promised. Governor Manchin even loyally defended the President’s anti-coal rhetoric as he supports an administration that is focused on putting one the state’s key industries out of business.

“At a time when West Virginia’s unemployment stands at 8.9 percent and the national debt has skyrocketed past $13 trillion, voters will decide whether their state will be better off with another Democrat Senator who will loyally support the Obama agenda, or whether they want a Senator who will stand up for the checks-and-balances that they deserve.” – Brian Walsh, NRSC Communications Director

Background Information:

Manchin Had Previously Said He Intended To Serve A Full Four-Year Term As Governor, Even If There Was A Vacancy…

• “Also During The Lookahead, Manchin Addressed His Political Future, Saying He Intends To Serve A Full Four-Year Term As Governor, Regardless Of Whether There Would Be Any Vacancies In The U.S. Senate.” (Phil Kabler, “Phil Kabler Column,” The Charleston [WV] Gazette, 2/8/09)
• “[G]ov. Joe Manchin Told Gazette Editors Monday He Intends To Serve The Full Four-Year Term.” (Phil Kabler, “Manchin ‘Will Not’ Replace Byrd,” Charleston Gazette, 4/1/08)

Manchin Is A Strong Supporter Of ObamaCare….

• February 2010: “Gov. Joe Manchin Emerged Monday From A Meeting With President Barack Obama Prepared To Help Shoulder The Costs Of An Overhaul Of The Nation’s Health Care System. Manchin Continues To Back The Health Care Reform And Has Promised To Help Find A Way To Pay For It, Already Suggesting An Increase In The State Cigarette Tax.” (“Manchin Still Backing Health Care Bill,” The Charleston [WV] Daily Mail, 2/23/10)
• February 2010: Although The “State’s Burden Of The Medicaid Expansion Could Be Tens Of Millions Of Dollars Each Year,” Manchin Said It Was “Doable.” “The state’s burden of the Medicaid expansion could be tens of millions of dollars each year, depending on how much money the federal government puts in. Either way, Manchin said, ‘I think there’s a way that this is doable.’” (“Manchin Still Backing Health Care Bill,” The Charleston [WV] Daily Mail, 2/23/10)
• April 2010: Manchin’s Spokesman Reiterated That Manchin Supports The President’s Health Care Spending Bill. “‘The Department of Health and Human Resources is currently evaluating the federal health care law, especially as it relates to Medicaid expansion for West Virginia,’ agency spokeswoman Marsha Dadisman wrote in an email. ‘. . . The department will most likely release a statement to the media when we’ve completed our evaluation.’ That uncertainty leaves state officials in the awkward position of needing to budget ahead for what could be a major expense without knowing how much that expense will be. Still, Matt Turner, spokesman for Gov. Joe Manchin, said the governor supported the legislation.” (Walt Williams, “Health Care Reform Has Unknown Costs For State,” The State [WV] Journal, 4/2/10)

Before The Inauguration, Manchin Said Obama’s Plan For A Stimulus Package Would Jumpstart The Economy….

• In December 2008, Manchin Said Obama’s Plan For An Economic Stimulus Package With Funding For Infrastructure Projects Would Jumpstart The U.S. Economy Immediately By Creating Jobs And Demand For Construction Materials. “After meetings with President-elect Barack Obama on Monday and Tuesday, Gov. Joe Manchin said he is convinced Obama will move quickly on economic stimulus packages for the states. Manchin said federal funding for highway construction and other infrastructure projects would jump-start the U.S. economy by immediately creating jobs and demand for construction materials. ‘With infrastructure projects, these jobs are ready to go tomorrow,’ Manchin said Tuesday afternoon, after Obama met with the Democratic Governors Association Monday evening and the National Governors Association Tuesday morning in Philadelphia.” (Phil Kabler, “Obama Will Help, Manchin Says,” Charleston Gazette, 12/3/08)
• “Manchin Said, ‘[Obama’s] Not Just Throwing Money At This (Recession). He Wants To Make Sure There Are Investments And Value.’” (George Hohmann, “Manchin Says Obama Here To Help,” Charleston Daily Mail, 12/3/08)
• Manchin: Obama’s “Taken The Approach Of Investing Back Into America, State By State. There are no giveaway programs. We’ve been doing this around the world for other nations. It’s about time we started doing this for America.’” (George Hohmann, “Manchin Says Obama Here To Help,” Charleston Daily Mail, 12/3/08)

Manchin Is A Strong Supporter Of President Obama….

• Manchin: “We Are All Totally Committed To Senator Barack Obama Being The Next President Of The United States. I Can Assure You That.” (Governor Joe Manchin, Remarks At DNC Press Conference, 6/10/08)
• “Manchin Said He Told Obama On The Phone That He Had His Full Support. The Governor Insists Obama Is The Better Man To Help The Stumbling Economy And That He Takes An Interest In State Issues. ‘They talk about Joe the plumber, I’m going to tell you about Joe the governor,’ Manchin said Wednesday. ‘We’re looking for partnership. We’re looking for someone who understands how hard-working people should be treated in the most respectful and fairest possible way.’” (Jake Stump, “Obama Says W.Va. Still In Play, In Conference Call, Candidate Tells Manchin He’d Love To Visit State If At All Possible,” Charleston Daily Mail, 10/30/08)
• “‘It’s About The Economy,’ The Governor Continued. ‘West Virginia Has Done Very Well, But We Can Come Down With This National Economy As It’s Sinking Right Now. I Think [Obama] Would Be A Tremendous Partner. I’ve Never Seen A Presidential Candidate Or Heard Of One Reaching Out To The Governors State-By-State To See How They Can Work And Make Things Better.’” (Jake Stump, “Obama Says W.Va. Still In Play, In Conference Call, Candidate Tells Manchin He’d Love To Visit State If At All Possible,” Charleston Daily Mail, 10/30/08)

President Obama And His Agenda Are Deeply Unpopular In West Virginia….

• According To A Gallup Poll Releases Just Yesterday, President Obama’s Approval In West Virginia Is Among The Lowest In The Country At 34 Percent. (Gallup Poll, 7/19/2010)
• According To A Recent Rasmussen Poll, 67 Percent Of West Virginia Voters Oppose The Democrats’ Health Care Bill, And Only 22 Percent Believe The Stimulus Helped The Economy. (Rasmussen, 7/8/2010)