"Sen. Joe Manchin is the man in the middle, and he knows that means he wields considerable power in a U.S. Senate soon to become evenly divided.

In a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon, West Virginia’s Democratic senator acknowledged that his centrism in a Senate with 50 Democrats, 50 Republicans and Kamala Harris breaking ties in Democrats’ favor as vice president gives him great leverage to set the Senate’s agenda.

“I’m going to be in a very unique position because of my voting pattern for [the last] 10 years,” Manchin said."

Mike Tony reports for the Charleston Gazette-Mail January 19, 2021. [2]