Manchin’s opposition threatens to sink Biden budget nominee

But the Democratic wins in two Georgia Senate runoffs a month later kept the prospect of her confirmation alive as long as all 50 Democrats voted in favor of her nomination.

Her nomination had been considered on the rocks had Republicans kept control of the Senate.

Some political observers suggested internal Democratic power politics were at play, with Manchin asserting his independence to send a message to a Biden administration pushing a more ambitious, progressive agenda.

Though Tanden's confirmation is now in question, Biden on Friday told reporters that he will not withdraw her nomination over Manchin's announcement. As soon as then-President-elect Biden announced her as his pick to led the powerful but wonky agency, Republicans signaled their intent to line up against her confirmation.

Manchin cited Tanden's "public statements and tweets" in his statement.

President Biden on February 19 said that he has enough votes to get her confirmation. "For this reason, I can not support her nomination", said Manchin, who has a history of breaking with his party. Bernie Sanders, who reminded her of their past at her hearing.

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"Neera Tanden is an accomplished policy expert who would be an excellent Budget Director and we look forward to the committee votes next week and to continuing to work toward her confirmation through engagement with both parties", White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

It's unclear if the Biden administration will pull her nomination entirely or try to secure a "yes" vote from a Republican senator.

Tanden apologized for her Twitter past during a hearing before lawmakers, saying she regretted her language, as reported by Politico.

The tweets in question include posts in which she called McConnell "Moscow Mitch" and "Voldemort", called Senator Tom Cotton a fraud, and claimed that compared to Senator Ted Cruz, vampires have more heart.

"I worry less about what Mrs. Tanden did in the past than what she's going to do in the future", Sanders said Friday night on CNN.

"Susan Collins" awful treatment of Dr. Ford should haunt Collins the rest of her days, ' Tanden tweeted during the contentious Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, when Susan Blasey Ford raised allegations against him. "I'm talking to her early next week". The first Black woman to serve in the role, she helped wrangle the compromise that ended the nation's longest government shutdown in 2019 and the coronavirus relief packages Congress approved in 2020.