Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said Friday that he will support acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination to the permanently have to post.

With fellow GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell, Kentucky, still absent after a hospitalization, Senate Republicans could afford to lose only two votes in their effort to confirm the Trump nominee – if all of the chamber's Democrats, as expected, vote against Blanche. 

Before saying "yes," Cassidy had not supported Blanche, with GOP Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, the two "no" votes.  

Senate Republican Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, now has enough votes to confirm Blanche and can hold a final vote on the Senate floor before August recess.

President Trump having backed the primary candidate who defeated Cassidy, sparked speculation the Louisiana would try to tank Blanche's nomination.

However, Casssidy said in backing Blanche: "This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances. All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche."

"Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this. But the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche," he continued. "It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump, and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanche."

Sens. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, and John Cornyn, of Texas, previously dropped their opposition to Blanche after he provided them with written assurances on the end of an abandoned "anti-weaponization fund." 

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.