It would behoove him to switch parties.
Manchin will not switch parties. He has convinced himself he can be the next Bill Clinton minus the zipper problem & harpy wife. At some point from the wreckage of the Rat party he will present himself as the “safe sane” centrist choice. I think he’s fooling himself! This is not 1992, the “political middle” is mostly gone. Triangulation Dick Morris style will not work! He could switch, but he doesn’t bring much anymore and who would trust him?
He’d be just another RINO. DEFEAT him and send him home.