A potential GOP rival to Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy reversed course over the weekend and endorsed the three-term Louisiana congressman, who is running for Senate.

As first reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune, state Rep. Alan Seabaugh, who had seriously considered running, instead endorsed Cassidy in a statement on Sunday. The move rids one potential hurdle for Cassidy in his attempt to defeat Democratic Sen. Mary L. Landrieu.

The Cassidy campaign touted the news Monday, releasing another statement from Seabaugh, who had recently criticized Cassidy as not sufficiently conservative.

“In recent weeks, Bill Cassidy has proven something to me and fellow conservatives,” Seabaugh said in a statement. “He stood with those of us who care about the future of this country by not giving in to President Obama and the liberal big spenders in Congress. This particular stand was important to me, as a conservative.”

While one challenger is out of the way, Cassidy still has retired Air Force officer Rob Maness to contend with in the jungle primary with Landrieu. Maness was endorsed last week by the Senate Conservatives Fund despite reporting a remarkably low $16,000 in cash on hand as of Sept. 30.

If no one receives 50 percent in the all-party contest next November, the top two finishers advance to a runoff.

The race is rated a Tossup by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.