The fact is that CNN reported Carson was going home for R&R.
CNN DID NOT report that Carson was dropping out.
The Cruz campaign staff took the CNN story and ASSUMED it meant that Carson was dropping out. They they then sent out notification of such to all their precinct captains 33 SECONDS before the caucus was to begin.
Got that? THIRTY THREE SECONDS BEFORE THE PROCESS WAS TO BEGIN - when there would be NO TIME FOR CARSON’S STAFF TO REACT.
I don’t know what the Rubio tweet was, if you have it, please post it ... However, unless Rubio’s camp instructed it’s precinct captains to tell the caucus attendees that Carson was quitting his campaign and to vote for Marco, then it’s not an issue. ...
BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CRUZ CREW DID IN FACT DO: They made a false assumption based on a factual press release, knowing that THEIR INTERPRETATION and NARRATIVE was not what the CNN report stated. They used THAT NARRATIVE to compel Carson voters to drop their support for Carson and instead vote for Cruz.
Again, mistakes were made, but the original source of this was still CNN.
Steve King’s mistake was to take the CNN story and take it as an indication that Carson was quitting.
Unless there is evidence to show malice on Cruz’s part, I give him the benefit of the doubt. Youa re entitled of course not to.