Posted on 02/03/2016 1:06:31 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The bromance has long ended and the bitter battle is only beginning to rage between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz as the Republican presidential primary devolves into a slugfest now that the crowded field is winnowing down to let the dominate contenders duke it out leading into the New Hampshire primary.
But first, the results of Monday's Iowa caucus continue to be a point of contention days after Cruz was declared the winner.
On Tuesday, Cruz was forced to apologize to Ben Carson's campaign for misleadingly suggesting to caucusing supporters that the retired neurosurgeon planned to drop out of the race in an apparent effort to corral additional voters to the Cruz camp. Carson actually only intended to return to Florida to change clothes before eventually returning to the campaign trail.
After initially shocking observers when he appeared to accept defeat with a modicum of graciousness Monday night, Trump decided to lash out at Cruz Wednesday, tweeting that a "either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified"
Trump amplifying Carson's allegations of "dirty politics" played by the Cruz campaign surely wasn't what was expected when Cruz admitted fault while still defending his campaign's action as "fair game." After all, the Cruz campaign initially denied the allegations.
"For months, my campaign has survived the lies and dirty tricks from opponents who profess to to detest the games of the political class, but in reality are masters at it," Carson complained on Monday before citing various "political tricks" by the Cruz campaign.
During an interview with right wing radio host Mike Gallagher today, Cruz walked back much of his admission of guilt and shifted blame to the liberal media for turning Carson against him.
(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...
"Well, look, I was disappointed that an impression had been left that was incomplete," Cruz told Gallagher. "It was based on public news reports, and so some of the media folks who want to use it to impugn integrity are deliberately using it in a misleading way."
Trump is embarrassing himself.
The Cruz team tweet was 34 seconds after the CNN report. I think there is a lot more to this story than we know:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8hJofse56g&list=PLeJcxIFBRGJ1I0NnYc_YInDxSNk42CDHS&index=1
Mr. Trump needs to let up on Cruz - he won’t be the nominee anyway. It’s reported that Rubio pushed the Carson dropping out thing as well. It’s Rubio that Mr. Trump needs to go after - he’s the one being pushed by the establishment.
Putting all else aside and going to the heat of the moment:
If you heard a major news outlet reporting that a candidate was heading home and would not be going to New Hampshire and South Carolina, what would you initially think that means?
That’s what both Cruz and Rubio apparently thought it meant.
Then the correction went out, but by then things were moving too fast.
To me they ALL are. Lots of blame to go around.
He’s good at that.
If Trump loses NH, how soon before he drops out?
#notworthit
He’ll save Christianity!
He said so so it must be true!
Both Trump and Cruz are like three year old kids pointing fingers.
The caucus is history. If they had any sense, they should be moving on.
RE: The Cruz team tweet was 34 seconds after the CNN report
Also, Interestingly, Carson was at 7.7 in the final average of polls at real clear politics. Trump was at 28.6
Trump ended the night with 24% and Carson ended up with 9%. So Carson ended “better†than his final poll numbers.
Trump is not alleging that Trump’s own numbers were affected by Cruz campaign “dirty tricksâ€. Trump ended the night 4.5 down from his last polling numbers.
Here’s what really needs to be done.... ( this from me, a Cruz supporter ):
What needs to happen though is Ben Carson filing a formal complaint with the FEC and then finding a few people who actually changed their vote to Cruz based on the false information put out by the Cruz camp about Carson leaving the race. Then you have a legitimate case against Cruz.
Trump: I lost so we should have a do-over
Cruz had the unmitigated gall to finish ahead of Trump. Just who does he think he is?
“Cruz walked back much of his admission of guilt and shifted blame to the liberal media for turning Carson against him.”
It looks more like Cruz has to shift and pivot his story every 24 hours.
He’s dancing to Trump’s horn, but keep telling yourselves that Trump is the one “looking bad”.
It’s Rubio that Mr. Trump needs to go after - he’s the one being pushed by the establishment.
But Rubio’s in third place (not first) so there’d be nothing to gain by pointing the finger at him
Looks like The Don is going to have to break a few legs.
RE: If you heard a major news outlet reporting that a candidate was heading home and would not be going to New Hampshire and South Carolina, what would you initially think that means?
If I were a Carson supporter, I’d double check to see if Carson has officially given up before coming to any conclusions.
I DO NOT for a moment believe that Carson supporters are so dumb and gullible that a mere internet post would cause them to stop voting for him.
He isn’t looking bad, he is embarrassing himself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.