 "Ted Cruz")
Terming as "garbage" the media allegation that he had multiple extra marital affairs, leading Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz has launched a scathing attack on his party's front-runner Donald Trump and accused him for inventing the "tabloid smear".
"It is garbage, complete and utter lies. It is a tabloid smear, and it has come from Donald Trump and his henchmen," Cruz told reporters yesterday in Wisconsin after the publication of an article in the National Enquirer, which claimed that he had affairs with five secret mistresses.
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Trump, 69, denied the allegation.
"I have no idea whether or not the cover story about Ted Cruz in this week's issue of the National Enquirer is true or not, but I had absolutely nothing to do with it, did not know about it, and have not, as yet, read it," Trump, 45, said in a lengthy statement.
"Likewise, I have nothing to do with the National Enquirer and unlike Ted Cruz I do not surround myself with political hacks and henchman and then pretend total innocence," he said.
"Ted Cruz's problem with the National Enquirer is his and his alone, and while they were right about O J Simpson, John Edwards, and many others, I certainly hope they are not right about Ted Cruz," Trump said.
The article adds to the nasty blow of exchanges between Cruz and Trump, which began early this week after a pro-Cruz super PAC ran an advertisement in which they used a nude picture of Trump's wife, who was a model before marriage.
"Shocking claims: Pervy Ted Cruz caught cheating - with 5 secret mistress! The romps that could destroy his presidential campaign," the magazine alleged yesterday. The article about Cruz is further inflaming the bitter battle for the Republican nomination.
An angry Cruz described it as baseless and full of lies and urged people to support him become the Republican nominee.
"I don't make a habit out of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my family," he said.
"Donald Trump is not going to be the Republican nominee," Cruz said when asked if he would support Trump in becoming the party's presidential nominee.
Trump currently leads the Republican race to the White House in terms of delegate count.
Needed 1237 delegates to become the Republican presidential nominee, Trump currently has 739 delegates from primary and caucuses in 19 States and territories.
Cruz is lagging behind in the delegate count with 465 delegates in his kitty from nine wins.
The next major Republican primary is scheduled to be held in Wisconsin on April 5, which has 42 delegates.
As part RealClearPolitics, which tracks and averages all major polls, it's a tight race between Trump and Cruz with the real estate tycoon leading by a little over 2% points.
