Exclusive: Manchin looks to campaign for Collins

“You lose Susan, you lose the heart and soul of the Senate,” the former West Virginia senator said. Former Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W. Va., is in talks with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to appear at a campaign event with the incumbent Republican senator, Manchin and Collins told Semafor. Manchin raised eyebrows by endorsing Collins against Democrat Troy Jackson, marking the second consecutive cycle Manchin has backed his former colleague. He might even trek up to Vacationland this fall. “We’re still talking about that, but he’s offered to do so, which I was thrilled about. It shows how closely I have always worked in a bipartisan way that I would have a very prominent Democratic centrist going all-out for me,” Collins said. “It’s just trying to find the right event, and his availability.” Manchin said he’s “absolutely” working with Collins to find an event that will work. “You lose Susan, you lose the heart and soul of the Senate,” he said.