Joe Manchin: “Thank you all for your service, and thanks for being here.”

The pledge is simply this: that you remain independent and not be part of the Democrat or Republican system.

So you’re not making a commitment that you owe your soul to the company store, or basically to the parties, whether it be a D or an R, they’re going to have to earn your support, but the people will be much better off, and they’ll…

The way the parties have weaponized the political process today, they make it impossible to have a 'D' or an 'R' next to your name and speak to the other side.

We’re trying to get a person who can be committed to — and totally committed to – being an independent with an independent voice.