Rick Perry endorses Ted Cruz

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz for president.

"It's a great privilege to endorse Ted Cruz," Perry said on Fox News Monday morning of his home state senator, adding that he has "really gotten to know" Cruz over the past few months.

He's "probably one of the best listeners I've ever been engaged with on the political front," Perry said. "I am convinced from day one that this very committed conservative will be ready from day one to be commander and chief."

Perry also called Cruz a "principled conservative," who will stand up for an issue even if it isn't the popular one and has not compromised his views over time.

"Of those individuals of who have a chance to win the Republican primary, at this juncture from my perspective, Ted Cruz is by far the most consistent conservative in that crowd," Perry said in a Monday interview with Politico, which first reported the endorsement.

Referring to the tight race between Cruz and frontrunner Donald Trump that has seemingly caused a split in the Republican party, Perry said that the primary race now "appears to be down to two people."

According to Perry, who dropped his 2016 bid last September, the criticism that Cruz is too uncompromising to be an effective president isn't true.