If CNN reported that, they would be incorrect. But it would not be unfair to pass the report along.
In fact, Rubio, Trump, and Carson operatives were saying pretty much that exact thing, trying to depress the Cruz vote. They’re just angry because people didn’t buy it.
It would not be incorrect. I have heard legal opinions both for and against the NBC status of Cruz. It is a topic worthy of discussion by CNN or any other network. It is a hot topic here. It is why I used it as a hypothetical.
The problem would be if a member of any campaign organization used it to spin a lie & used that lie on a mass scale during the actual voting process in an attempt to change votes.
As someone who wants to cast an informed vote, I find such tactics beyond the pale.