It does not matter AT ALL whatsoever how many votes Carson lost or Cruz gained. What matters is that a dirty trick was attempted.
If a person tries to rob a bank, but is unsuccessful in getting any money from the bank, he is still guilty of attempted robbery. The cops do not release him simply because he did not gain any money.
Exactly what I have said all along.
I would add although Carson was the target of this tactic, the true victim would be any voter who changed a vote based on false information ( i.e. lie) put out by members of another candidate’s organization during the voting process.
I seem to be in the minority. Saying ‘everybody does it’, ‘nobody was hurt,’ ‘it’s his own fault’ or anything else is what my kids tried back in the day. As I would tell my kids, it is still wrong.