A 50 state strategy requires a big tent

[rpannier]

85. You mean, what he said on TV

or of Obama, the Obama energy and environment policies crushed West Virginia’s spirit.
or
“the Democrats are preventing the working class from working.”
or in 2012 2 weeks before the general election on whether he'd support Pres Obama
“I don’t feel compelled as I did in 2008,”

I have supported moderate and conservative Democrats in the past, so your question is moot.
My argument rested on his assertion to faux spews that he was independent, but to be fair claimed that his brand was Democratic, so he gets points for that part.
His public criticism of the party is something you don't get from Republicans toward their party, and one can make a very solid argument, smarter and more connected people on both the right and left and center have, that party discipline is undermined when prominent members publicly lash away at the party. It's part of the reason why Republicans began pushing people like Lowell Weicker out in the late 80's and early 90's, to get rid of the public critics.
I am okay with Nelson (D-FL) and Rep Tim Ryan (D-OH).
But when Manchin, the most prominent Democrat from West Virginia publicly attacks the party and praises Hair Douchengroper, while refusing to attend a meeting with outgoing Pres Obama and making sure the whole fricking world knows it, I could easily argue that he is doing damage to the party as well.