washingtonformer candidate jeb bush endorse ted cruz republican presidential nomination wednesday say u.s. senator texas represent party best chance win white house statement former florida governor call cruz consistent principled conservative demonstrate ability appeal voters win primary contest washington break way republicans hope win back white house put nation good path support nominee articulate conservative policies help people rise reach full potential bush say 63-year-old bush whose father brother serve president drop presidential nomination fight lose badly south carolina feb. 20. endorsement come establishment republicans scramble stop front-runner donald trump win nomination divisive proposals like plan deport 11 million illegal immigrants cruz run second place behind trump could conceivably win enough republican delegate take nomination ohio governor john kasich lone path nomination extend nomination race party national convention july idea deny trump require 1,237 delegate need force party leaders consider someone else source close bush say bush pick cruz viable path nomination show win state source say bush consider push contest convention hail-mary strategy best weeks withdraw bush meet miami former rival cruz kasich u.s. senator marco rubio florida rubio drop race lose florida last week bush speak phone cruz monday statement bush resume sharp criticism trump say republican voters must move overcome divisiveness vulgarity trump bring political arena certainly lose chance defeat democratic nominee reverse president barack obama fail policies win republicans need make election propose solutions many challenge face believe vote ted bush say statement cruz say bush endorsement evidence republicans continue unite behind campaign nominate prove conservative defeat democratic favorite hillary clinton nov. election jeb bush endorse ted cruz republican nomination