Agreed. It's the classic big lie. A few active posters online repeat the rumors about Cruz until people think there must be something behind the rumors. Then the same active posters repeat the advice to file a lawsuit even though it's bad advice. Cruz cannot win without proving actual malice (because he's a public figure), but people think suing sounds like good advice, so they assume failure to file a useless lawsuit proves there is something behind the rumor machine.
It's sad. Dr. Ben Carson's reputation was trashed, probably with no basis. Now Cruz is going through the same thing, again probably with no basis. I have a bad feeling not just about this election, but about the next decade or more for America. Things are likely to get indescribably ugly.
Perception matters. Right now he is perceived as dodging the question. He can turn that around in an instant, yet he declines every opportunity to do so. Cruz’s problems are caused by Cruz.