Ted Cruz says he'll vote for Donald Trump

Cruz made the announcement on Friday, following mounting criticism over his refusal to endorse Trump at the Republican National Convention in July.

"After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," Cruz said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The statement fell just short of a full-on endorsement, although it represented a remarkable shift in Cruz's stance on Trump, whom the Texas senator once called a "pathological liar," "utterly amoral," and "a narcissist."

In justifying his 180-degree turn, Cruz pointed to his promise to vote for the Republican nominee last year. In a tweet accompanying the post, Cruz also made his stance on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton clear.

Booed off the stage

Cruz has faced increased pressure to reverse his stance on Trump, whom he dealt a stinging blow in July when he subtly criticized the Republican nominee at the convention in Cleveland.

"We deserve leaders who stand for principle, who unite us all behind shared values, who cast aside anger for love. That is the standard we should expect, from everybody," Cruz said, drawing both cheers and boos from the audience. He went on to urge people to "vote your conscience."

The senator, known for his firebrand style and arch-conservative views, faces a possible uphill battle in his home state of Texas, where he could face a primary challenger while running for re-election in 2018.

Trump expressed support for former Texas Governor Rick Perry as a possible rival, although he didn't say if Perry was actually going to run.

blc/kl (AP, dpa)