US Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz has dropped out of the nomination race to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Cruz, who is trailing Donald Trump in the Republican delegate count, made the surprise announcement during a rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“Your average Republican voter may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer,” Cruz said. “But I’m beginning to realize that even Republican voters aren’t stupid enough to vote for a Canadian Latino running on an anti-immigration platform.”

The Senator from Texas claimed that he is the kind of leader that the Tories need.

“We need leaders who will stand unapologetically in defense of marriage.” Cruz said.

When asked by reporters whether his renunciation of Canadian citizen would make him ineligible to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party, Cruz replied that it should pose no problem.

“A Canadian, is a Canadian is a Canadian,” the Calgary-born Cruz said.

There was mixed reaction from the Tories to Cruz’s announcement.

“Sen. Cruz is a religious fundamentalist of questionable character who pledges allegiance to the US flag,” Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose said. “I believe he’s well suited to lead our party.”

“Sen. Cruz appeala to the creationists, homophobes, and climate deniers,” Jason Kenney, widely expected to throw his hat in the ring, said. “In other words, he’ll be identical to every other Conservative leadership candidate.”

Cruz’s departure means that the Republican contest will be head-to-head between billionaire Donald Trump and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Trump thanked Cruz for “doing the wise thing” by dropping out of the race.

“Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough,” Trump said. “Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive.”