House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) remains hopeful that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) will support Democratsâ sweeping election reform bill despite his public opposition to it.
During an interview on CNNâs âState of the Unionâ Sunday, Pelosi said she read Manchinâs op-ed in which he stated he would vote against the For the People Act, but that she does not view his comments as foreclosing the chance that he might for the bill if it was modified.
âI read the op-ed⌠I think he left the door open, I think itâs ajar,â Pelosi said.
Host Dana Bash asked if Pelosi has some knowledge about Manchinâs thinking that other Democrats do not.
She said, âI donât know anything specific about this. But I do know that he has specific concerns about the legislation that we may be able to come to terms on.â
Bash interjected to ask if Manchinâs opposition is âbridgableâ
âI think so. As I said to him, you left the door open and weâre going to go right in,â Pelosi said.
Watch the video below:
Pelosiâs comments come a week after Manchin wrote in an op-ed that he would vote against the For the People Act, as IJR reported.
âThe right to vote is fundamental to our American democracy, and protecting that right should not be about party or Politics. Least of all, protecting this right, which is a value I share, should never be done in a partisan manner,â Manchin wrote.
He continued, âUnfortunately, we now are witnessing that the fundamental right to vote has itself become overtly politicized. Todayâs debate about how to best protect our right to vote and to hold elections, however, is not about finding common ground, but seeking partisan advantage.â
Finally, he said, âI will vote against the For the People Act. Furthermore, I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster.â
As The Washington Post reports, Democrats saw Manchinâs op-ed as crushing their hopes of passing their âmarquee voting rights bill.â
Manchin met with civil rights leaders after his op-ed but said he remained opposed to the legislation.
