Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld William (Bill) WeldRalph Gants, chief justice of Massachusetts supreme court, dies at 65 The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden visits Kenosha | Trump's double-voting suggestion draws fire | Facebook clamps down on election ads Biden picks up endorsements from nearly 100 Republicans MORE (R) said he will not run as an independent next year if he loses his long-shot primary challenge against President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE.

“No, I would not run as an independent,” Weld said in an interview Thursday at The Hill’s offices in Washington. “Depending on who the Democratic nominee was, I could either support the Democrat or conceivably the libertarian.”

Weld wouldn’t say which candidate in the vast Democratic field he would consider backing, but added that he’s known former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Joe Biden should enact critical government reforms if he wins MORE for years.

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He also said Biden has the best chance of winning over independent and anti-Trump Republican voters. But that doesn’t mean Biden is the only Democrat he would consider backing.

“The only thing I’ve said is an absolute: In no circumstances would I ever support Donald Trump for any office ever. I think he’s kind of way out there,” Weld said.

The 74-year-old candidate said he’s prepared to end his campaign if he has a "poor performance" in New Hampshire or on Super Tuesday the following month.

He did not specify what would constitute a lackluster showing other than saying, “If I’m at 1 percent in New Hampshire, sure [I'll drop out]. But I’m not going to be at 1 percent."

Weld said he plans to have TV ads up in New Hampshire at the end of the month, and that he would need a strong showing in the state's Feb. 11 primary to keep funding his campaign in Super Tuesday states, including the expensive California market, through March 3.

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Weld predicted he will “seriously out perform” in New Hampshire, drawing perhaps as much as 30 percent of the GOP vote.

A showing at that level, he argued, could give Trump “a real shove” toward a decision to end his reelection campaign.

Weld is joined by former Rep. Joe Walsh Joe WalshSunday shows preview: Protests continue over shooting of Blake; coronavirus legislation talks remain at impasse Republicans officially renominate Trump for president Tucker Carlson responds to guest correcting pronunciation of Kamala Harris's name: 'So what?' MORE (R-Ill.) in his bid to win the GOP nomination. Former Rep. Mark Sanford Mark SanfordOn The Money: Business world braces for blue sweep | Federal Reserve chief to outline plans for inflation, economy | Meadows 'not optimistic' about stalemate on coronavirus deal Trump critic Sanford forms anti-debt advocacy group Republicans officially renominate Trump for president MORE (R-S.C.) dropped out of the Republican primary race in November.