Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign is accusing rival Ted Cruz of “underhanded tactics” in South Carolina, after a Facebook post claiming South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy regretted his decision to endorse the Florida senator circulated online.
The post, from the page Trey Gowdy Prayers, calls Gowdy’s endorsement of Rubio a “grave mistake,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
{mosads}”It’s official, I have changed my mind,” the post said. “My previous endorsement of Marco Rubio was a grave mistake. The recent South Carolina debate revealed his total lack of integrity, intellect and foresight.”
The post then goes on to endorse Cruz.
“To all my Christian and Conservative friends in South Carolina, I hereby formally endorse Ted Cruz for President of the United States.”
In a statement, Gowdy slammed Cruz’s campaign for spreading false information.
“As a prosecutor, and in Congress, I’ve devoted my life to the rule of law and truth. The truth actually matters to me and to all South Carolinians. Unfortunately it appears that the campaign of Senator Ted Cruz may not place the same value on waging a contest based on the truth and facts,” he said in a statement released by the Rubio campaign.
He said the fake Facebook post couldn’t be farther from the truth, and called on Cruz and his campaign to “repudiate these dishonest and underhanded tactics.”
“We can have a debate about the future of our party and our country. But we need not leave our integrity behind,” Gowdy said.
Cruz’s campaign has been accused of playing dirty tricks in the past. During the Iowa caucuses, the Texas senator’s campaign was accused of spreading a false rumor that rival Ben Carson was dropping out of the race.