Cruz: Trump won’t get nomination

GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz sought to distance himself from front-runner Donald Trump this week, saying the mogul would not be the party’s pick for 2016.

Asked during an interview with WABC’s Rita Cosby if he could eventually defeat Trump based on his own principles, the Texas senator, who posted impressive third-quarter fundraising numbers Thursday said, “I think that’s right.

{mosads}”I think in time, I don’t believe Donald is going to be the nominee and I think, in time, the lion’s share of his supporters end up with us,” Cruz said in the interview airing Sunday.

Cruz is the only top candidate to have not publicly sparred with Trump, who has led in the polls for more than two months, including among very conservative voters.

Cruz has complimented Trump and held a D.C. rally with him protesting the Iran nuclear deal, even as GOP rivals blasted the brash billionaire’s controversial remarks over the summer, which included questioning Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) war record.

“There have been other candidates in this race who have gone out of their way to smack Donald with a two-by-four, and I haven’t been one of them,” Cruz said Thursday.

Cruz added that he was “glad” Trump was in the race.