Senator Joe Manchin [I-WV] appears to have played a pivotal role in convincing President Biden to drop his bid for re-election. He called on Biden to end his race Sunday, just hours before the president made his decision.  Manchin —now an Independent- was the latest member of Congress to suggest Biden drop out. Manchin told a series of Sunday news shows -quote- “I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,”  He encourage Biden to spend his final months in office focusing on the crises in Ukraine and Gaza, and working to unite the country.