Republican Rep. Scott Rigell said Wednesday he thinks Libertarian Gary Johnson can win the presidential election.
"This may surprise you to hear, but I'm ready to defend the proposition that Gov. Johnson can win," the Virginia congressman said during an appearance on CNN, according to The Hill.
Rigell compared Johnson's potential to Donald Trump, who rose out of the 17-member field of Republicans to become the presidential nominee. Rigell endorsed Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, last weekend.
"No one saw Trump winning the nomination, at least early on," Rigell said. "And I believe the same type of unusual, real anomalies and the forces that are coming against our country are present now in this election, the general election.
"The level of dissatisfaction with the two nominees is so wide, and it's so intense. I've never seen anything like it."
Johnson is running with former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld as his vice presidential candidate. They claimed last month former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is considering endorsing their ticket for the November election.