Nikki Haley endorses Ted Cruz in the race to White House

Washington, March 17: Indian-American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on Thursday endorsed Republican candidate Ted Cruz in the race for the White House which will provide a fillip to the Texas Senator's aspiration to become the US President.

Haley had earlier endorsed and campaigned for Senator Marco Rubio, who dropped out of the race on Tuesday after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of front runner Donald Trump in his home State of Florida.

Haley, who has not yet made an official announcement to endorse Cruz, told reporters she hoped that the Senator would emerge as the Republican presidential nominee.

"Ask me when the time comes again, but as of now I strongly believe I will support the Republican nominee," Haley was quoted as saying by a local State news paper.

"The only thing I can say now is my hope and my prayer is that Senator Cruz can come through this. That’s who, privately, I am fighting for," Haley said. Cruz is currently lagging far behind front runner Trump in the delegate count and unlikely to cross the half way path of 1237 delegates but Haley thinks otherwise.

"I do see a path for (Cruz), because I think he's been solid and strong the entire way. I think that he has been disciplined in the way that he has done it," the popular Indian American Governor said.

PTI