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.), the one-term congressman and radio host who has launched a primary challenge to President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE, urged Republicans to express publicly what they say in private about Trump.

"I've been in conservative talk radio for the last five years, and the people I talk to generally privately tell me 'I can't stand him, but Joe, the Democrats are socialists' or 'I can't stand him Joe, but I like my tax cuts,'" Walsh said in a CNN interview on Monday.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The bet I'm making with this campaign and our slogan is be brave, which is come on out. Say publicly what you believe privately," he added.

Walsh also said he believes he can defeat Trump.

"I'm doing this to win," he said."Who in their right mind ... would take this on ... if they didn't think they could win?"

Polling has consistently shown strong Republican support for the president.

Walsh announced Sunday that he was running against Trump as a Republican. He is the second person to challenge Trump in the primaries: 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) joined the race earlier this year.