I suspect if a candidate would have asked if it were set in stone, he would have replied the same.
Much more honest than selling a VAT as not a VAT as one defeated candidate attempted.
No not at all. Cruz clearly gave the details of his plan.
Now if Cruz was the nominee, and if he said after he got the nomination, that a certain portion of his plan wouldn't pass and that "it really shouldn't", that would be dishonest.