He's considering becoming a independent not Republican
He told associates that he has a two-step plan for exiting the party. First, he would send a letter to Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, removing himself from the Democratic leadership of the Senate. (He is vice chair of the Senate Democrats’ policy and communications committee.) Manchin hopes that would send a signal. He would then wait and see if that move had any impact on the negotiations. After about a week, he said, he would change his voter registration from Democrat to independent.
Manchin told associates that he was prepared to initiate his exit plan earlier this week and had mentioned the possibility to Biden. But he was encouraged by the conversations with Sanders and top Democrats that occurred at the start of the week and did not yet see a reason to take this step. Still, he has informed associates that because he is so out of sync with the Democratic Party, he believes it is likely he will leave the party by November 2022.
I myself am an Independent, not because I ever vote Dimocrat, but because I am just as disgusted with the limp wristed/do-nothing/cave bin/surrender all Republican party as I am the Dims. He may prove to be a more effective asset for them by "distancing" himself from the party. Still potentially a mole/collaborator
Will likely turn out to be a mole/collaborator.
He's considering becoming a independent not Republican
That’s all fine and good, but the only thing that matters is if he stops caucusing with them.
I could see this being an attempt to shore up his support in WV to avoid an anticipated hemorrhage of Senators.
I myself am an Independent, not because I ever vote Dimocrat, but because I am just as disgusted with the limp wristed/do-nothing/cave bin/surrender all Republican party as I am the Dims. He may prove to be a more effective asset for them by "distancing" himself from the party. Still potentially a mole/collaborator