The Atlantic
What the Media Are Missing About Joe Manchin
The senator has skillfully managed his image, to stay viable in a state that went from a Democratic to a Republican majority.
March 5, 2021
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In 2005, I gathered with my fellow West Virginia trial lawyers for our annual conference in Charleston, the state’s capital. After legal seminars, we headed for back rooms, where the gregarious group told stories, drank whiskey, and assessed the latest developments in state politics. That year, we couldn’t stop talking about our new governor, Joe Manchin, because, even though the group had supported his run, he was about to punch us in the face.