Longtime Clinton ally James Carville — who remains a close confidant of Bill Clinton’s — said he’s actually put his money where his mouth is, placing a bet on Cruz on the website PredictIt.com.

“I’ve been on Cruz since Day One,” said Carville, who said the Texas senator first came on his radar after his wife, Republican strategist Mary Matalin, hosted a fundraiser for Cruz about a year ago at their home. “I saw the people that were there, people I’d never seen before … I was fascinated. I saw that these were not typical political people. He’s smart, he has a message and he’s positioned himself just right in this race.” That means putting up a strong showing in the Iowa caucuses, and then cleaning up after the New Hampshire primary, when the race heads down South.

Bill Clinton, sources said, also views Cruz as a top candidate with talent, gumption and plenty of money in the bank — $26 million as of Oct. 15 — and in private conversations has outlined how Cruz could win a primary, but not a general election.

It’s Cruz who is also on the lips of Clinton donors. “Cruz looks like he’s ascending, like he’s the person who will gain the most from Trump and Carson,” said Clinton donor Jay Jacobs.