In a recent weekend interview, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) discussed the evolving dynamics of a prospective presidential election in 2024, focusing on the role of former President Donald Trump. Cassidy’s position revealed a nuanced perspective: if Trump wins the Republican primary, Cassidy will vote for him in the general election. However, Cassidy did not hesitate to express his opinion that Trump should consider withdrawing from the campaign due to concerns about his chances against incumbent President Joe Biden.
This narrative’s platform was CNN’s “State of the Union,” where Cassidy’s views arose in response to Trump’s controversial call for fellow Republican presidential candidates to withdraw from the race and rally behind his candidacy. Notably, the primary voting schedule is still five months away, and primary debates have yet to occur.
In a frank admission, Cassidy highlighted Trump’s legal entanglements, noting that the former president is facing a staggering 91 felony counts. Counts arising from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s management of classified materials are particularly significant. Cassidy emphasized the emergence of recorded recordings with potentially significant repercussions.
Cassidy, evaluating the repercussions, implied, “If that is proven, then we may have a presidential candidate who has been convicted of a crime.” This uncertain likelihood prompted him to query the viability of a candidate with such a legal background. He expressed his concerns by stating, “I believe Joe Biden should be replaced, but I do not believe Americans will vote for a convicted candidate. Therefore, I’m just very regretful about how everything is unfolding.”
Cassidy provided his personal opinion in response to a question about whether Trump should contemplate withdrawing from the campaign, implying that such a move might be strategically prudent for Trump. However, Cassidy acknowledged that Trump has the final say on the matter. In light of recent polling data, he openly expressed his opinion that Trump’s chances of defeating Biden in the general election appear formidable. Cassidy emphasized his adherence to the Republican ethos by asserting that any Republican candidate competing in the Milwaukee debate would outperform Biden. He fervently wished for a Republican candidate’s victory, emphasizing, “If former President Trump ends up getting the nomination, but cannot win the general election, that means we will have four more years of policies that have led to very high inflation, a $10,000 loss in purchasing power for the average American, and many other things that I believe have been detrimental to the future of the country.”
Cassidy responded unequivocally when asked about the hypothetical scenario of selecting a Democrat over Trump if the latter secured the nomination: “I’m going to vote for a Republican.” This proclamation demonstrated Cassidy’s unwavering commitment to the fundamental principles and values of the Republican party.