A veteran of Texas Republican politics recently pointed this out to me…

July 12, 2011: “George P. Bush, the nephew of former President George W. Bush, has picked a horse in the race for U.S. Senate. Ted Cruz’ campaign announced today that Bush is endorsing the former Texas Solicitor General to take over Kay Bailey Hutchison’s U.S. Senate seat.”

That was eleven months before the May 29, 2012 primary; at the time of Bush’s endorsement, Cruz was a serious underdog. A PPP poll the month showed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst at 40 percent and Cruz at 11 percent.

Of course, Cruz went on to beat Dewhurst in a runoff.

However, Cruz didn’t endorse George P. Bush early in his run the following cycle.

March 4, 2014, on Ted Cruz’s Facebook page: “George P. Bush convincingly won his primary for Land Commissioner. George was one of my very first supporters in our Senate race, and he and his wife Mandi are long-time friends. He’s smart, generous, and has a heart for service. George embodies a new generation of leaders for the Republican Party and for Texas.”

That was one day after the Republican primary, which Bush won, 73 percent to 27 percent.

In the eyes of some friends of George P. Bush, the younger Bush helped out Cruz when he needed it most… and then didn’t return the favor.

George P. Bush is, of course, also the son of Florida Governor Jeb Bush.