This afternoon, CNN posted a story claiming that some of Marco Rubio’s “advisers” think he should drop out of the GOP presidential race:
Some of @marcorubio's advisers say he should leave the race before the Florida primary https://t.co/WohwObTmB0 pic.twitter.com/fJHOV1YPND
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 7, 2016
The Marco Rubio campaign is weighing whether to get out before Florida, sources say. With @jamiegangel https://t.co/ZbvtndHQLx
— Tal Kopan (@TalKopan) March 7, 2016
But CNN’s article didn’t sit well with some tweeters, who smelled something fishy:
I absolutely loathe stories that feature unnamed advisers and supporters. Not one person is named in this story. https://t.co/6aSpMDqSla
— Nick Jacob (@nicktjacob) March 7, 2016
"sources say"
"some advisers"
"one source"
"sources within the campaign"
"one campaign source"Never trust this kind of reporting.
— Nick Jacob (@nicktjacob) March 7, 2016
I'm not quite buying that one week before Florida, multiple people from Rubio's camp gave an interview to CNN to bash his chances. Sorry.
— Nick Jacob (@nicktjacob) March 7, 2016
Nobody who would know about the inner workings of Rubio HQ and their deliberations is talking to CNN. Sorry guys.
— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) March 7, 2016
@CNNPolitics @marcorubio And how does CNN know this? Please explain?
— Patricia (@triciamap) March 7, 2016
I know Marco & his ppl. Don't think for 1 min anyone relevant in his world wld tell him to get out. He's in thru FL. https://t.co/mDa1jBi34Y
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) March 7, 2016
If story's true, all top Rubio advisers/inner circle I've spoken to (which is not all), have lied 2 me for weeks. https://t.co/nQHFxxr1CT
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) March 7, 2016
Recommended
https://twitter.com/GKChestertone/status/706977804336947200
Rubio’s campaign is pushing back against the story:
Rubio campaign spox @PounderFile on CNN report: "Story is so full of shit”
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 7, 2016
FYI, beware of completely made up stories from CNN. https://t.co/09AKBkF5tC
— Joe Pounder (@PounderFile) March 7, 2016
Rubio camp emails me, calls CNN report "insane" & "100% BS."
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 7, 2016
And his comms director Alex Conant went on CNN to call B.S.:
Alex Conant (Rubio Comms Director) live on CNN destroying the CNN reporter who published the story without any named sources.
— Nick Jacob (@nicktjacob) March 7, 2016
Alex Conant on CNN slamming CNN.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/GarrettVentry/status/706988742448324608
Wow. @AlexConant is PISSED on CNN
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) March 7, 2016
Conant is going nuclear on CNN.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 7, 2016
That’s putting it mildly.
Conant on CNN: “Jamie’s report was utter nonsense. She did not contact the campaign…CNN is doing a disservice to voters"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/706980522250125312
.@AlexConant to Wolf: "I have a lot of respect for you, but I’m going to ask you to stop reading that sort of fiction on air"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 7, 2016
"Fiction," he says, demanding CNN stop reporting it. Points out Rubio camp wasn't offered opportunity to comment. https://t.co/21VC6CwbRC
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/706980648767070209
Rubio spox asks Wolf: How did your report air on TV without anyone reaching to us for comment?
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 7, 2016
"Definitely, there is no way he is getting out of the race before Florida — or after Florida," @AlexConant tells CNN.
— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) March 7, 2016
Here’s the video:
MUST WATCH: @marcorubio's @AlexConant slams CNN story: "utter nonsense" https://t.co/WP1lWrCY6a
— Joe Pounder (@PounderFile) March 7, 2016
CNN is taking a beating on Twitter:
Rubio spox @AlexConant was just on @CNN calling that story nonsense. And it is. https://t.co/voMPwS3BMT
— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) March 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheRealRenaOwen/status/706981991757942784
Why wouldn't you run the appropriate traps on what would be a game-changing story if you nailed it? Because it's literally too good to check
— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) March 7, 2016
@CNN you guys need SUBSTANCE for YOUR accusations that Marco Rubio is dropping out…
— pianoman (@pianomanjamie) March 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/lawday9/status/706983472884289536
@TalKopan
This is an absolute lie and dirty trick. I'm very disappointed in @jamiegangel & @CNN. #Rubio #InItToWinIt #Florida #USA #GOP ??— ((ProperGanderNews)) (@BamaStephen) March 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/BlazerMc88/status/706984871088906240
@BecksLS30 no kidding. The guy is the communications director for Rubio. CNN spreading made up shit again. Ridiculous!
— Debbie Wright (@lipsis) March 7, 2016
It is easy to do these things if you have no journalistic ethics @CNN https://t.co/ytbarlH23A
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) March 7, 2016
"Should we get a comment from the campaign or just run the rumor?"
"Does it help Trump"
"Yes"
"Fuck it, we'll do it live"
This. Is CNN.— PoliMath (@politicalmath) March 7, 2016
For what it’s worth:
Inbox: "Marco Rubio will participate in an hour-long MSNBC Town Hall moderated by Chuck Todd on Wednesday, March 9."
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) March 7, 2016
sounds like he's dropping out, guys https://t.co/wW8Q41ZfSi
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 7, 2016
***
Update:
This doesn’t exactly bolster CNN’s case:
Jamie Gangel on CNN re Rubio story: "We double-checked with our source who confirmed that the story is 100% correct"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) March 8, 2016
“Source”? Hmmm.
https://twitter.com/ellencarmichael/status/706993829669240833
https://twitter.com/NathanWurtzel/status/706996654449278976
that's a dramatic change https://t.co/CAblEDyn94
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 8, 2016
***
Update:
So @CNN just canceled my previously scheduled interview on @andersoncooper tonight
— Alex Conant (@AlexConant) March 8, 2016
That doesn’t reflect terribly well on CNN, does it?
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/707009611153448960
https://twitter.com/MikkySherm/status/707009112828211201
Ridiculous. https://t.co/IKHeqD54rY
— Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) March 8, 2016
Whoa. RT @AlexConant: So @CNN just canceled my previously scheduled interview on @andersoncooper tonight
— CatsPolitics (@CatsPolitics) March 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/Thorrison/status/707009301152448518
Hell, if my net had just reported he was dropping I'd want to put @AlexConant on the hot seat over it. Wouldn't you?
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) March 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/justkarl/status/707011331627483136