Texas Senator Ted Cruz is attacking Republican presidential rival Donald Trump over what he calls the real estate mogul's "New York values."

According to CNN, the move marks a dramatic shift in strategy for Cruz, who up until this point has refrained from directly criticizing the GOP front-runner and political neophyte.

In a recent interview with a Massachusetts radio station, Cruz also sought to highlight Trump's longstanding ties to the Democratic Party and what he sees as his incompatibility with an increasingly southern, religious GOP.

"I would say Hillary would know well how to identify Democrats," he said of Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's recent claim that Trump once also belonged to her party. "She and Donald know each other well, and I do think it's interesting that Hillary Clinton's key supporters are doing everything they can to echo Donald's attacks on me."

Later, Cruz mocked Trump over his billionaire status and told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that he doesn't get his national security knowledge from "the Sunday shows," a shot at Trump that has recently been making the rounds among GOP power brokers.

Cruz also made certain to stress his claim that he tops Clinton in several national polls, while Trump lags behind the former secretary of state.

Meanwhile, Trump has long had Cruz in his crosshairs, going as far as to challenge his legal right to even hold office given his Canadian birth. Trump has also raised questions about his rival's faith, recently asserting, "Not many evangelicals come out of Cuba."

Cruz chalked up Trump's rhetoric to the pressure added by new polls, which show the two candidates are now running neck and neck in the critical, early voting state of Iowa.

"Listen, any time somebody's attacking your faith, it starts to suggest they're getting really nervous about what's happening in the race," Cruz said.

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