Gov. Scott Walker formally endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as the Republican presidential nominee Tuesday, a week before the critical Wisconsin primary April 5.
Walker announced his approval for the presidential candidate in an interview with WTMJ radio personality Charlie Sykes.
“Ted Cruz is the best positioned by far to both win the nomination of the Republican Party and to then go on and defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall this year,” Walker said. “That’s the key.”
The Wisconsin governor and former presidential candidate, who dropped out of the race in September, is one of several Republicans who have endorsed either Cruz or John Kasich in an effort to stop business mogul Donald Trump.
Trump, who held a rally in Janesville Tuesday afternoon, was not shocked by the endorsement.
“After the way I beat Gov. Scott Walker (and Jeb, Rand, Marco and all others) in the Presidential Primaries, no way he would ever endorse me!” Trump said in a tweet.
For Walker, Cruz’s position as a constitutional conservative, his plans to fight big government interests and his ability to win the nomination and the presidential seat sealed the endorsement.
According to recent polling, Cruz and Trump are currently tied in Wisconsin. Walker’s approval might help Cruz score the 42 Wisconsin delegates needed as they campaign together this upcoming week.
The battle against special interests is a commonality between Walker and Cruz. Walker noted his own accomplishments in a tweet backing Cruz.
“Like we did in WI, Ted Cruz isn’t afraid to stand up to big government special interests. He understands that power belongs to the states, not Wash DC,” Walker tweeted.
Cruz expressed his gratitude for the endorsement.
“Governor Walker has been an outstanding leader in the conservative movement and I’m honored to have his endorsement,” Cruz said in a statement. “Gov. Walker courageously stood up to special interests and won in a bitter fight in Wisconsin. His leadership has made a profound impact on the people of Wisconsin and I welcome his advice on how we can unite the Republican Party and defeat Hillary Clinton in November.”
