Steph Solis and David Jackson

USA TODAY

Ted Cruz picked up a couple of prominent endorsements Wednesday, one from former Republican opponent Jeb Bush and another from the anti-tax group Club for Growth.

In announcing his support, Bush described the Texas senator as "a consistent, principled conservative who has demonstrated the ability to appeal to voters and win primary contests, including yesterday’s Utah caucus."

The former Florida governor also blasted Cruz's primary opponent, GOP front-runner Donald Trump: "For the sake of our party and country, we must overcome the divisiveness and vulgarity Donald Trump has brought into the political arena or we will certainly lose our chance to defeat the Democratic nominee, most likely Hillary Clinton, this fall."

Club for Growth President David McIntosh, making his organization's first-ever presidential endorsement, described Cruz as "the best free-market, pro-growth, limited-government candidate in the presidential race."

McIntosh said Club for Growth got involved because of what he called "a vast gulf between the two leading Republican candidates on matters of economic liberty," adding that Trump "would seek to remake government in his desired image."

The endorsements are the latest signs of the Republican establishment embracing Cruz, as party leaders look to block Trump's nomination.

Cruz won Tuesday's caucuses in Utah, but Trump won Arizona's primary, thereby extending his delegate lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Bush dropped out of the GOP presidential race on Feb. 20, the night of a poor performance in the South Carolina primary. Bush had failed to win in any of the first three GOP contests, despite having launched his race last year as the front-runner, with a vast campaign war chest and the backing of the Republican establishment.

Bush's campaign ran aground in part because of slashing attacks from Trump, who labeled him the "low energy" candidate.

The former Florida governor did not endorse anyone during his state's primary, including his former protege, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

In picking Cruz, Bush also passed up the only remaining governor in the race, John Kasich of Ohio.

Cruz welcomed Bush's endorsement, calling it "further evidence that Republicans are continuing to unite behind our campaign to nominate a proven conservative to defeat Hillary Clinton in November."

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