West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin's recent announcement that he will not seek re-election next year has ignited speculation about a possible bid for the White House as the candidate of No Labels, a well-funded third-party group. Manchin, who has previously entertained the idea of running for president, brushed off warnings that his candidacy would inadvertently benefit the GOP frontrunner, Donald Trump.

During his announcement on Thursday, Manchin hinted at the possibility of a presidential run by stating his intention to travel the country and gauge interest in creating a movement to unify Americans. His decision to step away from the Senate prompted concern from all sides of the political spectrum.

Bill Kristol, a prominent Never Trumper, expressed concerns over the implications of Manchin's departure on Democratic prospects for holding the Senate in 2024 and the potential impact on No Labels' involvement in the presidential race. Olivia Troye, who served as an adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence during the Trump administration, warned that Manchin's run as a No Labels candidate could split votes and ultimately aid in Trump's re-election bid. Rahna Epting, the political action executive director of progressive political action committee MoveOn, asserted that a No Labels ticket would have no chance of winning any electoral college votes and would only serve to secure Trump's re-election.

Although other third-party candidates have already thrown their hats into the ring, including anti-vaccine campaigner Robert F Kennedy Jr and academics Cornel West and Jill Stein, Manchin's potential move or statement is likely to draw the most attention. With polling on a razor's edge in swing states between Trump and President Joe Biden, any further developments from Manchin will be closely watched.

At 76 years old, Manchin served as governor of West Virginia before entering the Senate in 2011. As a Democrat in a predominantly Republican and fossil fuel-dependent state, he stood out as a rare figure navigating the partisan landscape. Accepting the likely end to his tenure as a senator, Manchin appears poised to make a final push for a place in history.

In response to Manchin's departure, No Labels referred to him as a "great leader" and a "tireless voice for America's commonsense majority" in their own statement. The organization, which aims to promote bipartisan solutions, stated that it is gathering input from its members nationwide to determine the preferred leaders for their No Labels Unity presidential ticket, with a decision expected by early 2024.

While the outcome of Manchin's potential presidential run remains uncertain, his decision not to seek re-election in the Senate is likely to offer an opportunity for Republicans to secure a Senate seat. Steve Daines, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, expressed confidence in their party's prospects in West Virginia following Manchin's announcement.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, all eyes will be on Manchin as he navigates his political future and decides whether to further pursue a potential White House bid under the No Labels banner.