Sen. Manchin might not vote for Obama

By Josh Lederman - 04/20/12 12:59 PM ET

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is leaving open the possibility he might not vote to give President Obama a second term, making him the only Democratic senator to stake such a claim.

“I’ll look at the options,” Manchin told National Journal, adding that the three years under Obama's administration “have made it pretty rough” for West Virginia.

A centrist Democrat up for reelection in November, Manchin has frequently bucked his party as he works to fend off GOP challenges in a conservative-leaning state.

Manchin lashed out at Obama's budget in March, arguing that it fell short of what the country needed to do to rein in its debt and spending. The same month, he voted with Republicans on Sen. Roy Blunt's (R-Mo.) amendment on contraception coverage.

In February, Manchin voted against raising the debt ceiling — another blow to Obama. And in 2010, he also declined to say whether he would support Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

“I am just waiting for it to play out. I am not jumping in one way or another,” Manchin said of Obama's reelection. “I’m worried about me. I’ve said it’s not a team sport. You need to go out and work for yourself.”

News of Manchin's comments spread quickly Friday on the Internet, and Manchin followed up to clarify that he has real differences with both Obama and Mitt Romney, adding that many in West Virginia believe the presumptive GOP nominee is out of touch on entitlements.

He said regardless of party, every American should be rooting for the president to do well.

“With that being said, many West Virginians and I also have concerns about the Obama Administration when it comes to energy – coal in particular – and the need to get our financial house in order," Manchin said in a statement. "Like all West Virginians, I will be watching very carefully as this race develops."

Manchin, who was elected in 2010 after the death of incumbent Robert Byrd (D), is seeking reelection in a state that Obama lost four years ago.

- This post was updated at 4:49 p.m.