Maryland Governor Wes Moore has publicly urged West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a fellow Democrat, not to pursue a third-party bid for the presidency in the upcoming election. Governor Moore expressed his belief that such a bid would be futile and could potentially tarnish Manchin's distinguished career.

During an interview on ABC's "This Week," Moore thanked Manchin for his years of service and advised him against involving himself in what he deemed a "foolish" endeavor. Manchin recently announced that he would not seek re-election to the Senate but would maintain his political involvement through speaking engagements and traveling the country to gauge interest in mobilizing the political center.

Speculation has arisen that Manchin may join No Labels, a bipartisan group considering a "unity" ticket for the 2024 presidential race. While Manchin has not ruled out a White House bid, a source close to him revealed to ABC News that "nothing is off the table." No Labels mentioned in a statement that it is currently gathering input from its members and intends to make a decision on whether to initiate a campaign by early next year.

Governor Moore had strong criticism for No Labels, dismissing its lack of a clear policy platform and absence of a candidate. He described the group as a coalition supported by undisclosed dark money, raising concerns about transparency. No Labels has defended its decision to withhold donor information, citing concerns over potential attacks.

Manchin, known as the most conservative member of Senate Democrats, played a crucial role as a dealmaker alongside President Joe Biden when the Democratic Party held a slim majority in the Senate. However, his retirement virtually guarantees that Republicans will secure his seat, given the political leanings of West Virginia.

The discussions surrounding Manchin's potential future outside the Senate come at a time when Democrats are grappling with President Biden's declining approval ratings. Recent polls have shown Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in various swing states. There is also a prevailing sentiment among Americans that Biden is too old for another term.

Governor Moore sought to downplay concerns about Biden's age during the interview, emphasizing that the election is still a year away. He highlighted Biden's bipartisan accomplishments in infrastructure and expressed confidence that the American people would reward him with a second term based on his performance.

Furthermore, Governor Moore referenced the recent election results in Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia, where Democrats secured crucial victories despite Biden's waning popularity. He attributed these wins to voter motivation driven by the desire for bipartisan achievements.

As the conversation turned to potential third-party candidates running against Biden, including Jill Stein of the Green Party, former Democrat Robert Kennedy Jr., and Cornel West, Governor Moore stated that he was not concerned. He asserted that President Biden's focus on delivering results and improving systems would prevail over empty rhetoric.

With his public statement advising against a third-party presidential bid, Governor Wes Moore has made his stance clear on Senator Joe Manchin's potential political future. As the political landscape continues to evolve, speculation remains as to how Manchin's career will unfold and whether he will ultimately throw his hat into the presidential ring.