'Who does that?' Rubio spox SLAMS CNN over 'fiction' about Rubio dropping out [video]; Update: Spox says CNN canceled scheduled interview

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

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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