WASHINGTON – Democrat West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is poised to become one of the most important players in Washington if his party manages to grab the two Georgia Senate seats.
Raphael Warnock was declared winner early Wednesday morning in a special election, and Jon Ossoff is close to securing a second seat in what would be a sensational upset that will give the Democrats control of the Senate.
And Manchin, one of the most conservative Democratic senators, is going to play an important in the newly formed chamber, according to professor John Kilwein, of West Virginia University's political science department.
"He is a fairly conservative Democrat who sees himself as a bridge builder and a problem solver," says Kilwein.
With the prospect of such a close Senate, Kilwein is optimistic it will be able to get work done on key issues, with President Joe Biden in the White House and Manchin a driving force in the upper chamber.
Progress, maybe, on infrastructure funding or in much more shorter term the approval of $2,000 stimulus may now happen, he says.
On whether Manchin will cross the aisle and join the Republicans, Kilwein admits that thought did cross his mind in the last 24 hours, but only briefly.
"It's pretty unlikely as he has more power in his current situation," the political science professor argues. "He is everybody's darling, on both sides."
Speculation that Manchin might switch teams began circulating last night on Twitter when conservative activist Noah Ring tweeted: "Joe Manchin is reportedly in a close door meeting with McConnell. Reports have it he is considering changing parties."
Kilwein, though, said he cannot see the West Virginia Senator handing McConnell the same power he has held for some years.
"Whatever promises (McConnell) could make to Manchin, it would be not enough to exchange parties."
McConnell has a record going back to the Obama years where he obstructed the president, and he would likely do the same again under President Joe Biden, Kilwein argues.
He flags up Manchin's history, an "old time" Democrat who is conservative on social issues but also a union supporter, and notes that the electorate has moved far to the right in West Virginia in more recent years.
"But he is still accepted, even loved," he added.
Kilwein says: "Progressives are not necessarily going to be happy. They are going to be disappointed but there are more likely incremental steps made under Biden and these can help West Virginians."
Manchin has been contacted for comment, but hasn't responded to a request for comment.
