washington abrupt shift u.s. senator ted cruz endorse republican presidential nominee donald trump friday say candidate stop democrat hillary clinton win white house nov. year ago pledge endorse republican nominee honor commitment want see hillary clinton presidency encourage vote former republican presidential candidate say lengthy statement cruz senator texas favorite conservative tea party movement one trump last challengers republican presidential nomination drop race cruz address republican national convention july cleveland trump accept nomination decline endorse trump essentially boo stage new york businessman supporters heat primary battle trump insult cruz wife heidi physical appearance wild suggestion senator father link president john f. kennedy assassin prompt cruz denounce trump pathological liar july trump say want endorsement friday say greatly honor cruz back fight battle tough brilliant opponent look forward work many years come order make america great trump say cruz cite possibility democrats take control u.s. supreme court major reason decide drop opposition trump trump early day release name 21 prominent conservatives say would pick list nominate replacement conservative justice antonin scalia die february senate refuse take action president barack obama nomination merrick garland chief judge federal appeal court washington fill vacancy one name trump list u.s. senator mike lee utah key ally cruz cruz say time seek great specificity trump view toward fill open court currently deadlocked four right-leaning four left-leaning jurists say trump list provide serious reason voters choose support trump lee would make extraordinary justice cruz note qualms trump say struggle determine right course action general election end decide trump thing stand way clinton presidency say would devastate unite state long rival ted cruz endorse trump u.s. presidential race