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Rep. Peter King joked Tuesday that he'd "take cyanide" if Sen. Ted Cruz won the GOP presidential nomination. Peter King: I hate Ted Cruz and I voted for John Kasich

Peter King hates Ted Cruz and thinks Donald Trump will win big in New York’s Republican primary Tuesday, but he cast his ballot for John Kasich.

“I hate Ted Cruz, and I think I’ll take cyanide if he ever got the nomination,” the New York congressman told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “Now, having said that, I think you’re going to see Donald Trump scoring a big victory tonight. I have not endorsed Donald Trump. In fact, I actually voted by absentee ballot for John Kasich.”

King, who initially endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, said he voted for the Ohio governor to send a message and added that his vote wasn’t equivalent to an endorsement because Kasich has no “viable chance” to win the GOP nomination.

“I think he’s a real possibility, but I also — the likelihood is Donald Trump is going to get the nomination,” King said. “I want Donald Trump to know that if he wants the support of Republicans, he’s gotta get more substance. He’s gotta really learn what he’s talking about and can’t just be talking off the top of his head and making reckless charges.”

Kasich may be a good vice-presidential pick, King said, though the governor has been adamant that he isn’t interested in being anyone’s veep. “To come out and endorse someone means that you think right now they have a realistic chance of winning,” King said. “I don’t think John does.”

King, who suggested earlier this month that any New Yorker who considers voting for Cruz have their head examined, said he got heartburn after co-host Joe Scarborough mentioned his name in the same sentence as the Texas senator.