Cruz: Trump benefits my campaign

Ted Cruz says his insurgent campaign for the Republican presidential nomination benefits from a big factor.

His name is Donald Trump.

"I think Donald’s campaign has been immensely beneficial for our campaign," Cruz told NBC's Meet The Press in an interview that aired Sunday. "And the reason is, he’s framed the central issue of this Republican primary as: Who will stand up to Washington?"

Cruz, who has predicted that Trump will not win the Republican presidential nomination, has said he will wind up inheriting the billionaire's anti-establishment support.

Distinguishing himself from other anti-establishment candidates like Ben Carson, the first-term senator from Texas said he has opposed both Republican and Democratic leaders. "My record is markedly different in terms of actually standing up and taking on the Washington cartel," Cruz said.

Cruz also stressed that he likes Trump.

"You know others have gone out of their way to smack him," Cruz said. "I haven’t."