Ted Cruz makes naked play for Southern votes with Super Bowl pick

Manchester, N.H. – The ABC moderators were trying to bring some levity into a caustic Republican debate when they asked each candidate their pick for Sunday's Super Bowl matchup between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.

Instead, it sharpened a rift between two longtime rivals, and gave another contender a chance to cast his eye to the South.

First up was former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who said he was rooting for the Broncos because quarterback Peyton Manning had endorsed him. (Manning gave $2,700 to Bush's presidential campaign.)

That prompted Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, in a running feud with his fellow Floridian, to say he changed his mind and would back the Panthers.

Then came Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is staking his campaign on a strong showing in the South, who was the most blunt in his naked play for votes across the region.

“With an eye to Feb. 20, Carolina,” said Cruz. That’s the day of the South Carolina GOP primary.

In all, four of the seven candidates on the stage predicted a Carolina victory over the Broncos. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson ducked making a decision at all, forecasting with a chuckle that “it will be either Denver or Carolina.”