Hillary Clinton manifestly unfit to be US president: Ted Cruz

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is “manifestly unfit to be president” of the United States, according to former Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz.

Texas Senator Cruz said in an interview on Monday that he would not withdraw his endorsement of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump despite the release of an 11-year-old tape that shows the billionaire businessman making lewd comments about women. 

"I am supporting the Republican nominee because I think Hillary Clinton is an absolute disaster. Now my differences with Donald, I have articulated at great length during the campaign. And I tried all my might," Cruz said. "It was an amazing journey."

Cruz, a virulent critic of Clinton and the Obama administration, went on to say that “Hillary Clinton I think is manifestly unfit to be president. The policies she's advancing are the continuation of eight years of Barack Obama.”

"We need to have a president, we need to have leaders in Washington that will fight to defend our jobs, to get government off our back and to defend the Constitution and Bill of Rights to keep us safe,” he said.

Some of Cruz's advisers were urging him to withdraw his support of Trump after The Washington Post released a tape in which the former reality TV star is heard making vulgar comments about women and having a conversation about trying to have sex with a married woman.

GOP officials, including governors, senators and congressmen across the US have disavowed Trump over the sexually obscene remarks caught on a hot microphone.

Trump’s apology for the remarks has also failed to quell the unprecedented controversy over his comments, prompting growing demands by Republicans for him to quit the race.

Even Trump’s vice presidential candidate Mike Pence refused to defend the billionaire politician on Saturday, saying that he was “offended” by the obscene comments. It fueled speculations that Pence might quit the race.

On Monday, however, Pence reiterated his support for Trump, saying he expressed remorse for his controversial comments.

Cruz had endorsed Trump in September after refusing to back his primary rival for months. He did not even express support for Trump during his speech at the Republican National Convention in July. Instead, he snubbed him by advising Americans to “vote your conscience.”

"If you love our country and love your children as much as I know that you do, stand and speak and vote your conscience," Cruz then said. 

During the primary race, Cruz had called Trump a “braggadocios, arrogant buffoon” and a “serial philanderer.”

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