Joe Manchin is an anomaly in the U.S. Senate. The West Virginia politician is known for being a centrist Democrat in a state President Donald Trump won by a landslide, and has done what few others in his party have: teamed up with Trump on multiple occasions.

Now, according to a new profile, Manchin’s position on the president might evolve into complete endorsement down the line.

“I’m open to supporting the person who I think is best for my country and my state,” Manchin said to POLITICO when asked about his 2020 endorsement. “If his policies are best, I’ll be right there.”

The piece notes that Manchin could end up supporting Trump’s re-election in 2020 if he manages to stay in the senate after the upcoming midterm elections. Manchin also spoke to POLITICO about his give-and-take with Trump, his regular communications with the president, and the struggle of being a Democrat in a state with a large population of Trump supporters.

“I’m with him sometimes more than other Republican senators are with him,” said Manchin. “Washington Democrats are making it more difficult for me to be a West Virginia Democrat.”

Oh, and Manchin addresses Trump mocking his apparently excessive hugging:

The president recently mocked Manchin in front of the Senate GOP caucus as trying to hug him all the time — only a slight exaggeration, by Manchin’s telling. “We just kind of do the man-bump type thing. That’s it. And I think he’s pulling me as much as I’m pulling him,” Manchin said in describing his physical embraces with the president.

[Image via screengrab]

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