Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a campaign rally, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Phoenix. AP
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said Friday he will vote for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the upcoming caucuses in his home state of Utah, intensifying his attack against front-runner Donald Trump.
鈥淭here is a contest between Trumpism and Republicanism,鈥� Romney wrote on his official Facebook page. 鈥淭hrough the calculated statements of its leader, Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence. I am repulsed by each and every one of these.鈥�
Responding on Twitter, Trump noted that Romney had previously supported the candidacies of Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. 鈥淢itt Romney is a mixed up man who doesn鈥檛 have a clue,鈥� Trump wrote. 鈥淣o wonder he lost!鈥�
At a rally in Salt Lake City on Friday evening, Trump continued to dig in, jokingly questioning Romney鈥檚 faith.
鈥淎re you sure he鈥檚 a Mormon? Are we sure?鈥� he asked his crowd at the Infinity Event Center.
Trump also stressed his own connection to Mormons, saying he has employed many who follow the religion, including some who asked him to 鈥渕ake the payment directly to the church.鈥�
鈥淒o I love the Mormons?鈥� he asked. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e amazing people.鈥�
As the rally was going on, hundreds of anti-Trump protesters gathered on the street outside, which was closed off by police in riot gear.
Romney delivered a scathing attack on Trump in a speech at the University of Utah earlier this month, in which he called Trump 鈥渁 phony鈥� who is 鈥減laying the American public for suckers.鈥�
A number of Republican officials have shown their support for Cruz in recent days while falling short of endorsing the senator, who is currently in second place in the race for the Republican nomination. On Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham said he would help Cruz鈥檚 fundraising efforts but stopped short of offering his endorsement to his senate colleague.
READ: Cruz crushes Trump in Wyoming Republican caucus
Utah is one of four contests scheduled for Tuesday. Early polling shows Cruz leading among the state鈥檚 predominantly Mormon voters.
Trump currently leads his rivals, having won 678 delegates in contests held thus far, according to a count by The Associated Press. Cruz is in second place with 423 delegates, and Kasich is in third with 143.
Needed to win: 1,237.
READ: Republican debate night: Insults flying once more despite pledges