Joe Manchin Walks Back Support for Health Reform

Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin is popular among voters in West Virginia but is in a tight Senate race.

/ CBS/AP

As the West Virginia Senate race looks increasingly competitive, Democratic candidate Gov. Joe Manchin is walking back his support for President Obama's health care overhaul. "I believe in health care reform. I don't believe in the way this bill was passed," Manchin said in an interview with RealClearPolitics. "Why they overreached, I don't know."

He added that he is in favor of "repealing the things that are bad in that bill."

Manchin's statements stand in contrast to his previous remarks. "I'm totally behind health care reform," Manchin said in 2009. Days before the bill was passed in March, Manchin told the National Governors Association that he would vote for the health care bill if he were a congressman.

Polls indicate that the two-term governor is popular among his constituents, and he was considered a strong Democratic candidate for the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Robert Byrd. Manchin, however, appears to be suffering from the perception that he is an ally of the president, who is not popular in the state.

Manchin held only a slight lead over his Republican opponent, mining company owner John Raese, in a recent Rasmussen poll, and a recent Public Policy Polling survey put Raese slightly ahead. CBS News is calling the race a toss-up.

With the seat now in play, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is investing more than $1 million in ads against Manchin, arguing the governor "supports Barack Obama's big government agenda."

Raese told RealClearPolitics his campaign will launch its own ad on Tuesday slamming Manchin for pushing a renewable energy standard through the state legislature.

"We call it cap and trade Manchin-style," Raese said. Raese added that he has "zero" belief in the idea that human activity was contributing to climate change.

Manchin has made it clear he would not support "cap and trade" legislation to regulate greenhouse gasses if he were to join the Senate.

Critical Contests: Interactive Map with CBS News' Election 2010 Race Ratings

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Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[Cattzen]

This particular Healthcare Reform Bill doesn't accomplish enough and was nearly derailed and sabotaged by the Republican Party in both Houses of Congress. Further amendments, improvements, and eventually the expansion of MEDICARE for all will be an agenda if, the Republican Party of "NO!" is kept in the minority, where they can be kept from doing their damage to the American People.

[stormerF3]

Another politican only concerned about his advancement,while lying cheating and if we let him stealing his way to retirement on the Tax Payers dime.

[mikeoliphant]

In respect to Employer mandates, it appears from www.BenefitsManager.net and www.AHealthInsuranceQuote.com analysis that employers nationwide will be assessed a $2,000 penalty for every employee not offered group health insurance or commonly referred to employer sponsored health insurance. Does this include part time employees that traditionally didn?t qualify or buy health insurance in the first place because of the cost vrs. Hours worked? How in the world is an employer going to absorb this cost? So if an employee doesn?t want to participate in paying their share, the employer is penalized $2,000?

[tsigili]

Well, at least he now says the truth. Whether he should gain any election potential from that, is highly questionable.

[stormerF3]

Truth, how can you trust a liar,maybe he is just saying what he knows the public wants to hear? Say any thing to get elected, anything.

[RobAla]

I wonder where his heart and mind really are. I'm in.. no, I'm out... Whatever will put me in office.. that is where I stand....

[brnfream]

If you read the bill before you voted you would have known what was in it. If you were against any part of it where were you at the midnight hour when it was passed? Liar, Liar, pants on fire!!! Don't worry the repubs will take care of it in Nov.

[RealWorldNow]

What, Obamacare is not a good bill? Well madame Pelosi, You passed it! Now that we are finding out what's in it, we are amazed at the level of sausage making you have brought upon the American people. I knew it was going to be bad, back room deals with dems, pharma, health insurance companies, but this is where we draw the line. Nov 2nd we will speak loud and clear and if they don't hear it they will be bumped to the curb as well.

[RobAla]

I want this stinking health care bill repealed. ALL of it; I don't want it tweaked - I want it thrown in the garbage where it belongs. Americans were asking the federal government to help contain the costs of health care, and these slime balls in Washington used it as an opportunity to expand the federal government on the backs of businesses and taxpayers. This bill causes the cost health care to go up for the majority of Americans. Out with this bill, and out with the trash politicians who voted for this before they even read it.