Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), who last month announced his support for both Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio in the GOP presidential race, on Friday cast his support fully behind Cruz.
“Two weeks ago I urged Senators Cruz and Rubio to unite and present our Party with a combined ticket that would bring our conservative cause together in the primary election, and our nation together in the general election,” Franks said in a statement.
{mosads}“While that did not happen, the results of the last two weeks make clear that the most reliable conservative with the best chance to win is Ted Cruz.”
Franks endorsed both men last month, calling for a joint Cruz-Rubio ticket but declining to say who he believed should be president.
“I call upon them to join forces and establish a joint ticket in pursuit of the Presidency and Vice Presidency of the United States and I whole heartedly endorse them both to that end,” Franks said at the time.
But since then, Rubio has stumbled badly. The Florida senator faces judgment day in his home state of Florida on Tuesday, where he trails front-runner Donald Trump badly.
Many believe if Rubio doesn’t win in Florida, he’ll bow out of the race.
Rubio’s struggles seemed to weigh on Franks’ decision to go with Cruz.
“He can win our party’s nomination and even more importantly, can beat Hillary Clinton in November,” Franks said.
“Therefore I have cast my ballot for Ted and am now honored to endorse his campaign, encouraging all who believe in strong families, free-markets, and the Constitution, to similarly rally to this effort and vote for Ted as the next President of the United States.”