In a surprising announcement, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia declared on Friday that he will not be launching a third-party bid for the White House in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. This decision removes a potential challenge for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

Speaking at an event at West Virginia University, Manchin emphatically stated, "I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential campaign." Instead, he revealed that his focus will be on supporting his daughter's Super PAC, "Americans Together."

Expressing his commitment towards uniting the country, Manchin said, "I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president that has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together. And right now, we're challenged, and we've got to see if we can move people in that direction."

Rumors had been swirling since last year when Manchin announced that he would not seek reelection for his Senate seat, causing speculation about a potential third-party run for the presidency. However, he assured the crowd that his role in the 2024 election was not feasible after engaging with voters during a listening tour in 10 states, including New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Manchin acknowledged that the current system is not conducive to a third-party candidate. He stated, "The system right now is not set up for it... I just don't think it's the right time." His decision not to run as an independent candidate comes after analysis from 538 predicted that such a campaign would have drawn marginal support from President Biden and potentially shifted the election in favor of former President Donald Trump.

Regarding his relationship with President Biden, Manchin revealed that he spoke with him about his decision but clarified that he would not be endorsing him at the moment. Despite offering criticism during his speech, Manchin did not declare his departure from the Democratic Party.

An independent bid for the presidency is known to be an arduous and costly legal battle, as exemplified by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s current struggle to become a viable third-party candidate. Kennedy's name is only on one state's ballot.

As an interesting side note, Manchin was once considered a potential option for the bipartisan third-party group "No Labels" and their "Unity Ticket," although his decision today was not associated with the group. When asked if he had consulted with them beforehand, Manchin declined to answer but wished them well.

Manchin's announcement comes just ahead of Super Tuesday, the largest day in the presidential primary, which adds further significance to his decision. Although his departure from the possibility of an independent presidential run has been met with mixed reactions, it undoubtedly narrows the field and sets the stage for a more streamlined campaign leading up to the 2024 election.