Sen. Joe Manchin has urged President Donald Trump to select a Supreme Court nominee who isn't openly pushing to overturn Roe v. Wade, saying that a person who is more "centrist" is more likely to be confirmed by the Senate.
"All of that stuff is red flags for all Americans," the West Virginia Democrat told WV Metro News on Friday. "You give me a constitutionalist, who believes in the rule of law and is centrist and moderate ... I think it's somebody that will go a long way and be received well."
The senator, whose vote could be crucial for getting Trump's nominee confirmed in the GOP-majority Senate, said he thinks Trump needs to pick a replacement for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy who is "basically looking at the law," as the Roe v. Wade decision establishing the right to an abortion has been the nation's law since 1973.
Manchin stressed that he is pro-life, but noted that the issue "divides our country immediately."
"They're split right down the middle on that," said Manchin. "If he picks somebody that's hardcore on Roe v. Wade or that's hardcore on repealing health care, that's a bigger lift. That's going to be a harder person on either side. He has to make that decision."
Trump, however, told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo, in an excerpt from an interview released Friday through Twitter, that he will "probably not" ask his nominees how they'd vote on the abortion ruling, but stressed that "putting conservative people" on the court is his priority.
The long-time senator, who is facing a tough re-election battle in a state Trump carried easily, said protecting pre-existing conditions in healthcare is his top priority at this time.
Manchin met with Trump at the White House Thursday night, notes The Hill, while the president seeks support to confirm his upcoming nominee.
The president also met with Democratic Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana, who like Manchin are fighting for re-election in states Trump won in 2016.
Manchin, Donnelly and Heitkamp voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, and could be the three most likely to vote for Trump's nominee.
The president also met with Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine on Thursday. Manchin said Friday that if Trump picks someone "who is hardcore on the right to life," he could lose both Republicans' votes.
Trump has said he'll announce his nominee on July 9.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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