Senator Manchin hints at potential support for Vice President Harris, while Senator Romney maintains ambiguity.
But a shift might be on the horizon.
During an interview with CNN, the seasoned West Virginia senator hinted at stepping out of the sidelines. He also mentioned plans to converse with Vice President Kamala Harris imminently.
"Yea, I can see that," Manchin told CNN when asked if he'd endorse a candidate before the November elections.
Utah Senator Mitt Romney, the Republican Party's 2012 presidential nominee who voted twice in favor of impeaching former President Donald Trump during his trials, reaffirmed his disdain for Trump – and criticized the former president's reluctance to declare last week at the debate that he wanted Ukraine to win its war against Russia.
Prompted twice about endorsing Harris, Romney declined to comment.
"I'm absolutely not going to vote for former President Trump, and that's been made quite clear," Romney said when asked for the first time if he'd back Harris.
Prompted again about supporting Harris, Romney responded: "I don't have any stance on that at this moment."
The remarks by Manchin and Romney – two retiring senators who have been at odds with their party's base – demonstrate how Trump has alienated some moderate voters while also indicating that Harris herself has yet to win over right-leaning voters doubtful of the former president.
A third Trump critic, GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, doesn't plan to vote for Harris, despite her observations about the former president's debate performance: "I don't think it was Donald Trump's finest hour."
Manchin, who refused to confirm in 2012 if he'd vote for Barack Obama for reelection, seems to be the most likely of the three to endorse Harris. The ex-Democrat played down Harris' more liberal leanings and expressed optimism about her campaign. He also disputed allegations that she was too left-leaning for him.
"I believe she's heading in the right direction. The things I'm hearing are sounding quite promising," Manchin said, adding that he wanted to ensure the two had "a great conversation."
"She hails from California. I expect her to be different than where I come from," Manchin added. "She appears to be focusing on a broader picture now, which is quite encouraging."
Manchin admitted to playing phone tag with Harris and expressed eagerness for a conversation about energy, the national debt, and preserving the Senate's filibuster, the powerful stalling tactic that requires 60 votes to override.
"I'd like to ensure that she understands the importance of having a filibuster in the Senate, having once been a senator, and understanding how it helps to cool things down and encourages cooperation," he said. "If they're willing to disregard all of that and cast caution to the wind, we're in serious trouble."
During the Capitol interview last week, Romney strongly criticized the former president's reluctance to affirm that Ukraine should win the war against Russia and his use of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a sort of character reference.
"The president undeniably had to say, 'Of course, I want Ukraine to win. I want Ukraine to succeed,' and then he could discuss what 'winning' and 'success' entail. But we support democracies. We support nations now under attack by their neighbors, particularly by Russia," Romney added. "So, it was a significant gap that caused a collective gasp from nations around the world."
Romney argued that Orban's "authoritarian tendencies" were well-known, "and that's not someone I'd say, 'This is a badge of honor. He's the guy who likes me.' "
Manchin's potential endorsement could shake up the political landscape, especially considering his past stance on endorsing Democratic candidates.
The discussion between Manchin and Harris about preserving the Senate's filibuster is crucial, as it could determine the balance of power in the legislative body.
