Why doesn't Manchin have the stones to run as a Democrat?

[TwilightZone]

5. If he's not popular with anyone...

why are we so worried about him running?

I'm partly being sarcastic, but I keep seeing this claim that no one likes him or will support him, so my query is not entirely unserious.

Manchin is much less extreme than many are willing to admit, and there are a lot of people who don't identify with either party (but lean one way or the other) who may find him appealing as a candidate.

Just because we don't doesn't mean no one does. I think there's a lot of projection going on where Joe Manchin is concerned.

Personally, I don't think he's going to run. I could certainly be wrong, but I don't think he's going to run for something he almost certainly won't win. I also don't buy the notion that he would run just to assist Trump. That makes no sense.

If his motivation is solely money, which many claim, then he can probably make more in the private sector or as a political consultant, making the rounds on TV for the next few years.