[KARAH RUCKER]

NO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HAS EVER DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE THIS CLOSE TO ELECTION DAY.

SO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.

STARTING WITH WHO’S AT THE TOP OF THEIR TICKET?

SO LET THE CHATTER BEGIN.

A LOT OF NOISE – SURROUNDED WEST VIRGINIA SENATOR JOE MANCHIN WHO IS RETIRING FROM THE SENATE IN JANUARY – HE LEFT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN MAY.

SEVERAL NEWS OUTLETS TALKED WITH THEIR ANONYMOUS SOURCES –

ABOUT MANCHIN POTENTIALLY COMING BACK TO THE PARTY AND THROWING HIS HAT IN THE RING TO RUN AS A MORE “MODERATE” DEMOCRAT.

AND WHILE THERE WERE PLENTY OF HEADLINES –

AND RUMORS – ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024 –

HE HAS SINCE SHUT THOSE DOWN.

MANCHIN TELLING “CBS NEWS” MONDAY MORNING HE IS **NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE – NOR WILL HE BE ANYONE’S RUNNING MATE. 

AND THAT’S HOW FAST THE NEW CYCLE CHANGES – 

HEADLINES OUT JUST HOURS APART FROM THE OTHERS –

ANNOUNCING MANCHIN **ISN’T THE GUY – AS THE PARTY SEARCHES FOR ITS NEW LEADERSHIP AFTER THIS WEEKEND’S SHAKEUP.

IT’S PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF THIS WEEK.

SPECULATION OVER WHO WILL BE THE NEW DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ENDORSED VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

AND HILLARY CLINTON THREW HER SUPPORT BEHIND HARRIS TOO.

FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA – AS WELL AS  MANCHIN – HAVE **NOT ENDORSED HARRIS AS OF MONDAY MORNING –

AS A FULL CONSENSUS – ISN’T QUITE THERE.

 THE PARTY’S NEXT QUESTION TO ANSWER? WHO WILL COMPLIMENT THE TICKET AS V-P.

THERE’S ALREADY NAMES BEING THROWN OUT FOR THAT SPOT TOO –

LARGELY LAWMAKERS FROM SWING STATES TO TRY AND ROPE IN THAT SUPPORT.

THERE’S LOTS OF DECISIONS TO BE MADE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY –

AND LESS THAN A MONTH TO DO SO.

RIGHT NOW – OPTIONS REMAIN OPEN – UNTIL THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION THE WEEK OF AUGUST 19TH –

WHEN THE **NEW DEMOCRATIC TICKET WILL BE SOLIDIFIED.