Let's not all forget what happened in 2011.
It was, wait for it, CNN that pushed a fake poll of theirs that showed Santorum higher than normal. Why was it fake? Cause the Iowa poll surveyed only Republicans. Iowa is an open state in which about 25% of the voters that vote are Indy. Every polling company was including Indy voters at the time and Santorum wasn't doing well. CNN puts out a Republican only poll that showed Santorum with more support than all the other correct polls and BAM, the state controlled media created a story that did not exist.
This was all done to knock the front runner, Paul, from the top spot in Iowa. It worked cause the sheep all followed the Santorum is surging memo.
I'm guess CNN is trying to knock Trump out in this case and belittle any hope of Rand rising.