Sen. Lindsey Graham had some pretty harsh words for Donald Trump and Ted Cruz on Thursday. Graham told reporters at the Capitol that choosing between Trump or Cruz is like a choice between being shot or poisoned. According to USA Today, Graham also feels that if either of the two win the GOP presidential nomination, Republicans will lose the 2016 contest.

Lindsey Graham: A Trump Or Cruz Win Would Be Like 'Being Shot Or Poisoned' https://t.co/SzJ1bZ1Kuk — Portal ZigZag (@PortalZigZag) January 21, 2016

“The only way we lose this election is to nominate somebody who cannot grow this party’s vote among minorities, young women, and the coalitions we need to win,” Graham was quoted as saying. “If you nominate Trump and Cruz I think you’d get the same outcome. Whether it’s death by being shot or poisoning, does it really matter? I don’t think the outcome will be substantially different.”

Graham also lashed out at Hillary Clinton by saying “dishonest, which is Hillary Clinton in the eyes of the American people, beats crazy.”

“I think Donald Trump’s domestic and foreign policy is gibberish,” Graham continued. “I think Ted Cruz has a reputation of being ideological to a fault, and that when it comes to problem solving, he will have a very difficult time proving that he is a problem solver.”

Meanwhile in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are currently engaged in a fierce battle and each are trying to paint each other as close to the party’s establishment, Los Angeles Times wrote.

In Iowa, Cruz and Trump are currently tied, according to several surveys. Cruz’s support among evangelical voters — a key group in the state’s GOP caucuses — has surged in recent weeks, helping him gain on Trump, long the clear front-runner in Iowa polls, the report explained.

Jeb Bush recently received the symbolically important endorsement of Lindsey Graham on Friday, just weeks after the senator’s withdrawal from the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

During a press conference he gave in Charleston, South Carolina, accompanied by Bush, Graham endorsed Jeb Bush and praised his support for America’s troops.

“I have concluded without any hesitation, without any doubt that Jeb Bush is ready on day one to be a commander in chief worthy of the sacrifices of the one percent fighting this war,” Graham said.

The senator from South Carolina is considered one of the toughest voices in Washington on security and defense, which can help bolster the credentials of Bush in a field where many conservatives put great emphasis.

“Honored to have @GrahamBlog on our team. A proven leader with a clear understanding of the national security threats we face,” Bush tweeted on Friday morning.

Honored to have @GrahamBlog on our team. A proven leader with a clear understanding of the national security threats we face. — Jeb Bush (@JebBush) January 15, 2016

Having the backing of an influential senator benefits the image of Bush, whose campaign has lost favoritism. But we must keep in mind that Graham had to give up his own aspirations, precisely for failing to convince the Republican electorate.

This support can be interpreted as the beginning of the formation of a front against the traditional Republican candidacy and the seemingly unstoppable rise of the real estate magnate Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]