McConnell Does Complete 180 on Herschel Walker: Oddsmakers Still Have Him Losing

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) this past August expressed gross misgivings over the prospect of former NFL great Herschel Walker running for Senate on the Republican ticket in Georgia.

CNN's Manu Raju, Alex Rogers and Mike Warren reported at the time:

"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested to allies that former Georgia senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler should take another look at running again, according to three sources familiar with the matter, after their narrow losses in January flipped the Senate to Democratic control."

Fast forward to this week and McConnell is singing a completely different tune.

"I am happy to endorse Herschel Walker for U.S. Senate in Georgia. Herschel is the only one who can unite the party, defeat Senator Warnock, and help us take back the Senate. I look forward to working with Herschel in Washington to get the job done."

McConnell's reservations primarily came in light of Walker's ex-wife Cindy DeAngelis Grossman claims he tried to kill her.

Grossman once said of Herschel, “There was somebody there that was evil.”

Walker, who oddsmakers list as a +140 to win the Georgia Senate race, has acknowledged his struggles with mental illness in the past.  He has spoken publicly about being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder and has served as spokesperson for a mental health treatment program for veterans.

Walker attributed his divorce to his behavior caused by the disorder.  Walker's ex-wife, for the first 16 years of their marriage, said that his alters were somehow controlled, and she had no idea that he had any disorder.

Upon learning of the diagnosis, the former NFL player would exhibit "very sweet" alters or "very violent" alters who looked "evil", as reveald in the book "Breaking Free,"

Walker's wife said that in one situation where Walker exhibited two alters, she was in bed when he held a straight razor to her throat and repeatedly stated that he would kill her.

McConnell's endorsement could help Walker lock down the GOP primary.  He faces several lesser-known opponents.

Walker was encouraged to run by former President Donald Trump, a longtime friend.

Should he win the primary, Walker would face Democrat Raphael Warnock, who won the 2020 special election for the United States Senate seat held by Kelly Loeffler.  She had been appointed following the resignation of Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson, who was unable to finish his term due to health issues.

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com