Should Manchin flip, Republicans would have a Senate majority.

Since his refusal to back President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” economic plan, Democratic Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has become deeply unpopular within his own party, with many Democratic Senators chastising him for running counter to the party’s goals. In the wake of these concerns, members of the Republican party have begun extending offers to Manchin to flip parties.

Sen. Mitch McConnell is putting the GOP's courtship of Joe Manchin on full public display after the West Virginia Democrat’s fractious split with the White House over President Biden's social and environmental spending package. https://t.co/2SGCLhHJSK

— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) December 22, 2021

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said earlier on this week on conservative pundit Hugh Hewitt’s radio show that should Manchin have an interest in joining the GOP caucus, he would be readily welcomed by its members. “He feels like a man alone. If he were to join us he would be joining a lot of folks who have similar views on a whole range of issues,” McConnell said.

Political strategists have dismissed these efforts as a move by the GOP to obtain a slight Senate majority. Indeed, should Manchin flip his affiliation, the GOP would gain such a majority, which would likely make passing bills more difficult for Democratic senators, as well as the President.

EXCLUSIVE: Pres. Biden says that he thinks "a significant amount of what we need to get done" as part of his Build Back Better social legislation will, in fact, "get done" — despite opposition from Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. https://t.co/PxsQ7QvrgC

— ABC News (@ABC) December 23, 2021