August. Of 2015. This is when the rules for the Colorado Delegate selections were voted on and enacted. Neither Cruz nor Trump were candidates at that time.
Additionally, Trump could have tried to organize a slate of candidates, work at the grassroots level, but he didn’t. What effort he did put forth was slapdash and comical. When it all fell apart in the face of Cruz’ superior organization, legions of grassroots workers and general readiness, he simply fell back on blaming Cruz for “cheating” and “dirty tricks.”
He knew his followers would lap up such nonsense, and, as usual, none of you disappoint.
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Perception is everything. The perception now is that Cruz is an insider for the Republican party and he is out to disenfranchise the voters. This is a gift to the Trump train to beat Cruz over the head every day until Trump exceeds 1237 which he will.
An on top of that, I don’t want to rwward these insular, inbred politicking antics. It just encourages future candidates to do the same.