AUSTIN, TX -- As if the race for the GOP nomination weren't enough of a spectacle already, it's now reached truly tabloid proportions.

This is meant in a literal sense. In its current issue, the National Enquirer purports to have uncovered a pattern of philandering by Sen. Ted Cruz, who's emerged as the only Republican rival viable enough to challenge reality-television-star-turned-politician Donald Trump.

"Presidential candidate Ted Cruz is trying to survive an explosive 'dirt file' on the finger-wagging conservative senator!" the Enquirer dishes. "And the new issue of The National ENQUIRER — on newsstands now — reveals how the reports say the staunch Republican is hiding FIVE different mistresses!" Citing a "Washington insider" as its source, the gossip rage reports private detectives have been investigation the alleged affairs. The details were "leaked" to the publication in an effort to derail his campaign, they added.

By mid-Friday, Cruz reacted to the reports by labeling them as "garbage" orchestrated by Trump. He posted a statement of the reports on the Ted Cruz Facebook page. "I want to be crystal clear: these attacks are garbage. For Donald J. Trumpto enlist his friends at the National Enquirer and his political henchmen to do his bidding shows you that there is no low Donald won't go."

He denied the Enquire's allegations of extra-marital affairs, categorizing them as offensive to his wife, Heidi Cruz, and their family: "These smears are completely false, they're offensive to Heidi and me, they're offensive to our daughters, and they're offensive to everyone Donald continues to personally attack."

Within the hour, Trump answered his rival's accusations that he orchestrated the story in the gossip magazine.

"I have no idea whether or not the cover story about Ted Cruz in this week's issue of the National Enquirer is true or not," he wrote. "But I had absolutely nothing to do with it, did not know about it, and have not, as yet, read it." But even amid the denial, he took jabs at Cruz. In his statement, he betrays a lingering outrage over the photo of his naked wife used by Cruz supporters -- still adhering that it was Cruz who was responsible for its use in a political ad.