“But the fact remains that I did post it when I should have checked its accuracy first”, he wrote. “I regret the mistake”. Six hours later, Cruz Communications Director Rick Tyler tweeted a post which linked the video. Cruz’s campaign has been hit with a number of accusations that it’s misleading voters, and Rubio told reporters, “It’s every single day, something comes out of the Cruz campaign that’s deceptive and untrue”. But he also dismissed the anger from Rubio’s team. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., appearing to disparage the Bible.
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In a statement, rather than lay blame on Tyler, the Rubio campaign attributed the incident to a campaign culture fostered by Cruz.
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Feb. 21, 2016. Rubio was speaking to a Cruz staffer at the time.
Opinion polls show Rubio and Cruz running close in Nevada. Did Tyler seriously believe that Rubio walked up to a Cruz staffer and casually denigrated the Bible? “I guess one of their spokespersons apologized, and I accept their apology”.
Strange. But the story may have ended there had the video, which was circulated on conservative news websites, not been shared by Rick Tyler, Cruz’s longtime campaign spokesman.
Time’s Zeke Miller revealed yesterday afternoon that Ted Cruz had asked his senior spokesperson to resign after he spread false rumors about Marco Rubio.
Cruz’s decision to fire Tyler, who was one of his earliest hires, was widely seen by the media as an effort to turn the page on the narrative that his campaign has been engaging in dirty tricks.
But the closeness of the contest certainly weighed on Cruz as he implored his supporters to motivate others to caucus for him. In particular, Cruz faced criticism in Iowa for sending out a controversial “voter violation” mailer.
In Las Vegas, Cruz attempted to use the Tyler firing as a reset button. The audio on the video was unclear, but the transcript that accompanied it showed Rubio making a disparaging remark to the staffer about the Bible, saying there were “not many answers in it”. Orrin Hatch were the latest to endorse Rubio. What Rubio really said was, “All the answers are in there”.
Later Monday, Cruz indeed acted to punish the offender.
“I know Rick”, Carney said. “Weak RNC and Republican leadership probably won’t let this happen!”
This post has been updated with a tweet from Donald Trump. When three protesters got up to jeer Cruz’s stance on privatizing federally owned land, the candidate was interrupted by cheers as he discussed a niche issue that separates him from Trump.
Elko, Nev., a town of just 20,000 people is the center of the Nevada Caucuses today. Perhaps most damning, however, is that this story will already feed existing concerns about the Cruz campaign’s honesty.
He racked up a number of endorsements from party leaders, including senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and former presidential candidate Bob Dole, boosting his efforts to become the candidate who can unite Republicans. Cruz later underperformed in SC two contests later. Bush quit the race Saturday after struggling in Iowa, New Hampshire and SC.
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Kasich’s campaign says Ridge is signing on as a national co-chairman.
