Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign has tried to present the Texas Republican as the candidate of all true Christians, one who has, according to his father, a divine anointing to be president of the United States.

The extreme arrogance of this message echoes what many people who knew Cruz in college or worked with him on George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign or in Congress have told reporters, painting him as an egotistical and self-righteous bully.

Naturally, American Family Radio host Sandy Rios, whose endorsement of Cruz was touted by the senator’s campaign, yesterday offered a different explanation as to why so many people who know Cruz dislike him: because of his godliness.

While speaking with pastor Erwin Lutzer at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, Rios expressed dismay that many evangelicals are backing Donald Trump over Cruz, “who actually has been absolutely faithful and open about his faith and putting his money where his mouth is.”

“He has really done great things in Washington and he’s hated because of it,” she said. “The Senate, the party hates him. People don’t like, they don’t necessarily like righteous, really righteous people. I don’t know Ted personally that well, but generally speaking, is that true, you think? People sort of resent when somebody is kind of a reminder to them, kind of the bellwether of the way things should be and they don’t match up to that bellwether, there’s a resentment.”