Rep. Scott Rigell Edward (Scott) Scott RigellEx-Rep. Scott Taylor to seek old Virginia seat GOP rushes to embrace Trump GOP lawmaker appears in Gary Johnson ad MORE (R-Va.) says he thinks Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson Gary Earl JohnsonWhat the numbers say about Trump's chances at reelection Presidential race tightens in Minnesota as Trump plows resources into state The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden condemns violence, blames Trump for fomenting it l Bitter Mass. primaries reach the end l Super PAC spending set to explode MORE can win the presidency.

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"This may surprise you to hear, but I'm ready to defend the proposition that Gov. Johnson can win," Rigell said Wednesday on CNN.

Rigell, who is retiring at the end of his term, announced earlier this month that he is backing Johnson and snubbing GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE.

Rigell noted Wednesday that if Johnson can get enough support in polls to make the debate stage, it could set off a positive chain reaction for him.

"No one saw Trump winning the nomination, at least early on," he said. "And I believe the same type of unusual, real anomalies and the forces that are coming against our country are present now in this election, the general election."

Rigell said Americans are not happy with Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE as the two major-party options.

"The level of dissatisfaction with the two nominees is so wide, and it's so intense," he said. "I've never seen anything like it."

He added that he can't vote for Trump "in good conscience" and thinks Clinton is "equally unacceptable."

"I think it's not going to take votes from simply the Republican ticket, though it will. It's going to take votes from the Democratic ticket," Rigell said of voters flocking to Johnson.

"And I think that there's a pent-up demand that'll surprise a lot of people on Election Day."