Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said during a Tuesday interview that he had texted moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) about joining the Republican Party amid vitriolic backlash over Manchin’s decision to vote against his party’s $1.85 trillion social spending bill.
Cornyn reported to KXAN, an Austin-based radio station, that he had reached out to the maverick West Virginian following Manchin’s appearance on Fox News Sunday, when he announced his decision not to support the spending bill.
Manchin’s decision to become the 51st vote against the landmark budget bill kicked off a panic among Democrats, who quickly resorted to questioning Manchin’s motives, trustworthiness, and character.