Rubio, Graham Aren't Exactly Endorsing Cruz, But...

Politicians are getting behind Ted Cruz ... sort of:

• In a conference call to Minnesota supporters Wednesday that was mostly focused on explaining why he dropped out of the presidential race, Marco Rubio said that he hopes one of the GOP candidates still in the race will keep Donald Trump from becoming the nominee, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He also said that Ted Cruz is "the only conservative left in the race" ... but he didn't actually endorse Cruz. (John Kasich is the only other non-Trump contender left.)

• Another senator and former 2016 presidential contender offered a similar non-endorsement of Cruz: Lindsey Graham tells CNN that he'll headline a fundraiser for Cruz on Monday, a meet-and-greet event during the AIPAC conference in DC. Why? "I think he's the best alternative to beat Donald Trump. I'm going to help Ted in any way I can," Graham explained. Buuuuut, "He's certainly not my preference," Graham added of Cruz. "But he's a reliable Republican, conservative, which I've had many differences with. John Kasich is the most viable general election candidate. I just don't see how John gets through the primary. This is an outsider year, and he is an insider." Graham, who has previously joked about how unpopular Cruz is among his fellow senators, added that Cruz is indeed "not well-liked," but said that even though "Senator Cruz would not be my first choice, I think he is a Republican conservative who I could support."

(More Ted Cruz stories.)