Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is once again in the national spotlight after two years of infuriating his more left-leaning colleagues in the Senate. Up to this point, members of the chattering class viewed him as one of the most influential members of the upper chamber. He certainly held leverage when it was split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Being a moderate, he raised the ire of other Democrats for his refusal to go along with his party’s increasingly radical legislative agenda.

Now, folks on both sides of the aisle are speculating about where Manchin will go in the future. Republicans have already launched a campaign to pressure him to resign. Democrats, on the other hand, are practically on their knees, begging him to run for another term to bolster their power in the Senate. But the lawmaker has been rather tight-lipped about his future plans.

Republicans Tell Joe Manchin ‘Retire or Else’

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is targeting Manchin in the hopes of getting him to step down from his position after his current term ends in 2024. The GOP’s strategy involves painting the senator, who is seen as the only Democrat who could hold a seat in West Virginia, as “a Davos-trekking elitist,” according to Axios.

The GOP has launched a direct mail and digital ad campaign aiming at West Virginia voters in an effort to dissuade them from supporting Manchin for a third term. The mailers slam the senator for traveling to Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the World Economic Forum “instead of working in West Virginia.”

The advertisement pegs the lawmaker as “Maserati Manchin” and criticizes his opulent lifestyle. It homes in on the fact that he owns a luxury car and yacht and dines at fancy restaurants. The objective is to portray him as out of touch with everyday West Virginians.

Democrats Say ‘We Need You!’

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are desperately trying to persuade Manchin to seek another term, given that the chances of West Virginians electing another Democrat are slim to none. They are doing the same with John Tester (D-MT) for similar reasons. Politico reported:

“Democrats are already waging what might be the most consequential fight for Senate control next fall: Getting Jon Tester and Joe Manchin to run again.

“The decisions of the two Democratic senators from Montana and West Virginia, respectively, will determine their party’s chances of hanging onto its slim majority in 2024. And landing their reelection bids is job No. 1 for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Gary Peters as he embarks on his second tour of duty.”

If Manchin decides against running to represent “almost heaven” in 2024, it would place Democrats’ chances of holding on to the Senate in peril, a reality that is not lost on the party’s leadership. “Both of them are in challenging circumstances,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), “I think both can win, but they are the best candidates we have in their states.”

Jonathan Kott, a former Manchin aide, concurred. “If Manchin decides to run he’ll win. Nobody knows the state better and talks to his constituents more than him,” he told Politico.

What Says Manchin?

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Manchin has not indicated what his plans are for the future, but he may have given a slight hint during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press. He said he currently does not intend to run for West Virginia governor again, but that “everything’s on the table” for his future political career, which could even include a run at the presidency.

“I haven’t made a decision what I’m going to do in 2024. I’ve got two years ahead of me now to do the best I can for the state and for my country,” he explained. Manchin has often called for unity and insisted that the United States needs a president “that can bring this country together.”

If the senator decides not to make another run for the upper chamber, Democrats might be in trouble – especially if they fail to convince Tester to seek re-election either.