Ted Cruz gets Trump nod ahead of Texas early voting

Oct. 17--President Donald Trump has endorsed his fellow Republican and former GOP primary rival Ted Cruz, five days before Texans can cast an early vote in the U.S. Senate race.

"Ted Cruz has done so much for Texas, including massive cuts in taxes and regulations -- which has brought Texas to the best jobs numbers in the history of the state. He watches carefully over your 2nd Amendment. O'Rourke would blow it all! Ted has long had my Strong Endorsement," Trump posted on Twitter early Wednesday.

Trump also endorsed Cruz via Twitter as recently as August, when he said he would be "picking the biggest stadium in Texas we can find" to stump for Cruz. The president is planning to visit Texas on Monday to campaign for Cruz in Houston at NRG Arena, which has a capacity for about 8,000 people.

During the 2016 race for the GOP presidential nomination, Trump attacked Cruz, whom he dubbed "Lyin' Ted," with suggestions that Cruz's father was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and he posted an unflattering tweet about Cruz's wife, Heidi.

Trump's Twitter endorsement comes the day after Cruz debated his democratic opponent U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, in San Antonio. Although O'Rourke trails Cruz in some polls by as many as 9 points, O'Rourke announced a fundraising record of $38.1 million in the third quarter of 2018 last week.

"Ted Cruz has put his career above the interests and priorities of Texas," O'Rourke said at the debate. "Ted Cruz is for Ted Cruz."

Trump tweeted earlier Wednesday that he watched the debate and thought O'Rourke was a "flake."

"Watched the debate last night & Beto O'Rourke, who wants higher taxes and far more regulations, is not in the same league with Ted Cruz & what the great people of Texas stand for & want. Ted is strong on Crime, Border & 2nd A, loves our Military, Vets, Low Taxes. Beto is a Flake!" he tweeted.

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