Lonegan’s campaign issued a statement encouraging Republicans in Washington “not to capitulate to the president’s unreasonable demands” until after Wednesday’s special U.S. Senate election in New Jersey. According to Lonegan, he will win that race against Democratic Newark, N.J. Mayor Cory Booker. That in turn will cause Obama to give in to the Republican demands to stop the health care law.

“When I win, Obama will fold,” Lonegan said in the statement.

Lonegan has been gaining in recent polls, though Booker still has a double-digit lead. However, his statement said Lonegan believes “his internal polling shows a neck-and-neck race in the U.S. Senate contest and that all the momentum is in his favor.”

“My victory in this election on Wednesday will send a message to Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi that the American people want an end to Obamacare and the rest of the President’s radical agenda,” said Lonegan. “Republicans need to hold firm because seven days from today when Bob Menendez escorts me down the Senate aisle for my swearing in, the message about what our party should do will be clear for all,”

More: Steve Lonegan: Obama Will Cave on the Shutdown When I Win My Election