Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) believes Donald Trump could lose the race for the White House if he runs for president in 2024, and not even make the final national vote.
Speaking to Mike Allen during an interview for Axios on HBO that aired on Sunday, Sen. Cassidy said former President Trump could fall at the first hurdle and not be selected as the Republican nominee.
Explaining his position, Sen. Cassidy said: "President Trump is the first President, on the Republican side at least, to lose the House, the Senate and the Presidency in four years. Elections are about winning."
Allen then interrupted to clarify: "You think if he [Trump] ran, he could lose the nomination?"
Sen. Cassidy answered: "Well, if you want to win the presidency, and hopefully that's what voters are thinking about, I think he might."
The lawmaker then confirmed that he would not vote for former president Trump to become the Republican nominee.
Earlier this year, Sen. Cassidy was censured by the Louisiana Republican Party following his vote to convict former President Trump at his impeachment trial in the aftermath of the January 6 riot at the Capitol.
He was only one of seven Republican senators who did so and ultimately the former President was acquitted of the charges of incitement of insurrection."
Giving his reason for voting to convict former President Trump, Sen. Cassidy told Allen: "I take an oath to support and defend the Constitution.
"And when there was a pattern of behavior that culminated as it did on January 6, and we've had revelations since, that just led me to that decision."
Despite facing the ire of former President Trump and Louisiana Republicans, Sen. Cassidy's position is relatively secure as he will not face voters until November 2026.
While Sen. Cassidy has said on record that he would not vote for former President Trump to become the Republican nominee, leading bookmarks placed him as the favorite to win the 2024 election.
Last week, BetOnline offered 11-4 on Trump winning, followed by incumbent President Joe Biden at 13-4, and Vice President Kamala Harris third, with odds of 5-1.
Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis trailed Harris with odds of 10-1, but was ahead of Pete Buttigieg at 16-1, Nikki Haley at 18-1 and Mike Pence at 20-1.
BetOnline political oddsmaker Paul Krishnamurty previously told Newsweek: "Biden's approval rating is falling, and it looks less likely than ever that he will be able to get his agenda through Congress."
Newsweek has contacted former President Trump for comment.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Anders Anglesey is a U.S. News Reporter based in London, U.K., covering crime, politics, online extremism and trending stories. Anders ... Read more
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