House Speaker hopeful Kevin McCarthy, down on his luck after multiple failed tries to win the job Tuesday, is seeing an improvement in his odds just minutes before Republicans try again to elect a speaker today.
The betting site OddsChecker showed the California lawmaker sinking last night, but his odds revived this morning.
DNC ON MTG: ONCE POWERLESS, NOW ‘IN CHARGE’
It offered no explanation, though there has been some speculation that enough revolting Republicans would shift to supporting the current GOP House leader. And former President Donald Trump today backed McCarthy for the job.
“When we all went to bed last night it seemed like there could be a long, drawn-out battle approach. Kevin McCarthy was losing votes to become speaker of the House and no end seemed to be in sight. In fact, the books had seen his odds go to +115, or an implied 46.5% chance, while Steve Scalise was cut all the way down to +160, or an implied 38.5% chance. That’s all changing rapidly,” said the odds analysis on the site.
FOLLOW WASHINGTON SECRETS FOR BUZZ AND POLITICS
“As of 9 AM EST this morning, McCarthy had seen his odds cut back to -120 or an implied 54.5% chance, while Scalise was given +180 odds or an implied 35.7% chance. By 10 AM EST, those odds are now -150 for McCarthy or an implied 60% chance, while Scalise sits at +200 or an implied 33.3% chance,” it added.
Spokesman Kyle Newman shared with us, “It’s not yet clear how or why the odds have suddenly dramatically shifted in Kevin McCarthy’s favor. There’s been no public statement nor any signs of the 19 hardliners, or the 1 defector, changing their mind from last night. Yet, the books are getting more confident by the hour that McCarthy is going to win the speaker of the House. Do the books know something that the public doesn’t?”
