Senate aides hint at Manchin distress over spending bill backlash, desire to avoid 'Build Back Better' mention
Fox News
Senate aides are detailing what they say is Sen. Joe Manchin's growing defensiveness over his shift in support for a massive Democrat-backed spending bill in place of "Build Back Better."
Brandon Gillespie is an associate editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_cg.
Fox News Digital spoke with several Senate aides who detailed Manchin's anxiety concerning the backlash. Each of the aides asked to remain anonymous over fear of retaliation and because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations surrounding the revamped legislation.
"He is clearly defensive in his TV interviews, and he’s getting blasted pretty hard in West Virginia," one Senate committee staffer said, referring to multiple media appearances by Manchin in which he was sharply pressed over his shifting support.