McConnell’s private ask — confirmed to The Hill by a GOP senator and leadership aide — underscores how personally invested he is in the standoff against Democrats over the debt ceiling and comes as he’s warned publicly that Republicans won’t provide the votes needed to raise or suspend it.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told The Hill that McConnell has in recent weeks privately asked Republicans to vote against increasing the debt ceiling, characterizing the pitch to GOP senators as “I want you to vote this particular way.”

“He’s not bluffing,” Kennedy said of McConnell’s pledge that Republicans won’t help raise the debt ceiling.

A GOP leadership aide confirmed that McConnell had privately urged Republicans to oppose increasing the debt ceiling. The aide noted that McConnell got a “standing ovation” from GOP senators when he laid out what their position would be.