NEW YORK (NEWSnet/AP) — West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin announced on Friday that he is not running for president this year, saying he didn’t want to be a “spoiler.”

“I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run,” he said in a speech at West Virginia University that was part of a national listening tour.

The senator said he didn’t want to be “a spoiler, whatever you want to call it. I just don’t think it’s the right time.”

The centrist Democrat had been considering a run for the presidency and previously said he thought it would be clear by March whether a third-party candidacy was viable this year.

His decision comes as the leadership of No Labels, a national political movement that might offer an independent presidential ticket in 2024, has worked privately to identify serious candidates to represent the group in the general election. Manchin was considered as one of the prospects.

Manchin is only Democrat holding statewide office in West Virginia; and had already decided not to run again for the senate seat.

No Labels is still considering its options for the 2024 race.

“No Labels is currently speaking with several exceptional leaders about serving on the presidential Unity ticket. We are continuing to make great progress on our ballot access efforts and will announce in the coming weeks whether we will offer our line to a Unity ticket,” said the co-chairs of No Labels, former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, former head of the NAACP Benjamin Chavis, Jr., and former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory.

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