When Idaho Sen. Jim Risch made one of his frequent appearances yesterday on CNN's "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer, he kind of endorsed Ted Cruz for president – but just kind of.

CNN reports here that Risch first said he hadn’t endorsed another candidate since his favored one, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, dropped out. But then he said that as a "matter of pragmatics," he sees Cruz as the only remaining choice. Risch said, “It is stunning the defeat that Donald Trump would face against Hillary Clinton, it probably would be epic and historical." He added, "Obviously Kasich is so far behind, it's impossible really for him to get the numbers, so by process of elimination that gets you to Ted Cruz. At this point, there’s no choice."

That prompted Blitzer to respond: “So far, you’re only, I think, by our count the third senator, Republican senator, who now effectively on this program has come out and endorsed Cruz. Lindsay Graham and Mike Lee, your colleagues, they have, but I haven’t seen a whole lot.” Risch interrupted, “Did I just endorse, Wolf?” Blitzer responded, “I don’t know. You sort of said you prefer him over the other two.”

Risch said, “I do.” And Blitzer said, “That sounds like an endorsement, doesn’t it?”

Risch’s response: “I guess it depends on your definition.”

Politico published a story here about the exchange, headlined, “Sen. Jim Risch isn’t sure if he just endorsed Ted Cruz.”

Risch’s had no further comment today, saying only, "It is what it is." Here’s what he told me last month about the presidential race, back before Rubio dropped out: “I have made two decisions. I will not vote for either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders under any circumstances of any kind. I am all the way in for Marco Rubio. I have not made any other decisions.”

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