West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a popular Democrat widely thought to be eyeing the late Robert C. Byrd’s Senate seat, confirmed today that chances are he’ll jump in the race.

“It’s highly likely I will,” Manchin said on MSNBC’s “The Daily Rundown.” “I believe in the power of the voters to select who they want to represent them. I want serve my state to the highest possible position I can.”

Manchin is counting on a special session of the West Virginia legislature to clear up confusion about when and how a special election to fill Byrd’s seat should be held. The West Virginia secretary of state had ruled that an appointment should hold the seat until a November 2012 election, but partly due to public outcry, Manchin asked the attorney general for a ruling. The attorney general ruled that Manchin has the power to set a primary and an election date for this year.

Manchin said some in West Virginia had known about the confusion they’d face when Byrd passed away, both in the law succession for his seat and for the governor’s position, but had not clarified it out of deference and respect to Byrd while he was alive.

Manchin said he would likely ask the state legislature to set a primary date, since he will be running in it, and added that he’d had no pressure from Washington about whom he should appoint.

“They’ve been very, very respectful,” Manchin said.

Jim Geraghty surveys the potential Capito-Manchin match-up and finds Capito has already surpassed expectations, albeit very low ones. Two interesting wrinkles…

Manchin is one of the endangered species John McCormack writes about in The Weekly Standard this week—pro-life Democrats— while Capito is pro-choice. And, Geraghty offers this interesting thought: “Wonder if Capito or GOP nominee can pressure Manchin to sign Obamacare repeal pledge; 67% of West Virginia voters support repeal.”