Donald Trump has won all 9 delegates at stake in the Republican caucus in the Northern Mariana Islands, a remote U.S. territory that consists of 15 islands in the Pacific Ocean, Politico reports.
Become a member to get many great benefits -- exclusive analysis, trending news, a private podcast, no ads and more!
The End of the GOP Race or the Beginning?
“The Republican presidential campaign will not end next week, or even next month. But voters in the five states casting ballots on Tuesday will go a long way toward determining whether Donald J. Trump can win the 1,237 delegates necessary to claim the party’s nomination,” the New York Times reports.
“If Mr. Trump loses Ohio (possible) or Florida (less likely) and wins less-than-commanding victories in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina, he would face the strong possibility of falling short of a delegate majority and entering a contested Republican convention this summer. But with victories in the home states of two of his rivals, he could end the campaigns of Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Marco Rubio, leaving Sen. Ted Cruz as the only candidate still standing in his way.”
For members: The Best Scenario to Block Trump
Trump Conducts Background Checks on Volunteers
“Donald Trump’s campaign informed aspiring volunteers Sunday night that they would have to pass background checks and sign non-disclosure agreements if they wanted serve in the Trump Tower Call Center in Manhattan,” BuzzFeed reports.
Said a spokesman: “We need to make sure our call center is a safe environment for all of our volunteers and staff.”
Trump Staff Wanted to Oust Campaign Manager
“Donald Trump’s staff and advisers have expressed concerns about campaign manager Corey Lewandowski’s quick temper and heavy-handed leadership, and some even planned a coup against him last month,” sources involved in the discussions told Politico.
“A series of presidential primary victories ended the talk of deposing Lewandowski, the sources said. But now, Trump is facing external pressure to fire Lewandowski after he was accused last week of manhandling a reporter.”
Trump Maintains Wide Lead Nationally
A new NBC News/Survey Monkey poll finds Donald Trump leads the GOP presidential field nationally with 44%, followed by Ted Cruz at 24%, John Kasich at 12% and Marco Rubio at 11%.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton remains ahead of Bernie Sanders, 54% to 41%.
Carson Says If Trump Is Bad It’s Only for 4 Years
Ben Carson told Newsmax that even if Donald Trump turned out to be a bad president, he’ll only be in office for four years.
Said Carson: “Even if Donald Trump turns out not to be such a great president, which I don’t think is the case, I think he’s going to surround himself with really good people, but even if he didn’t, we’re only looking at four years as opposed to multiple generations and perhaps the loss of the American dream forever.”
Fox Will Host Another Debate
Fox News “announced that it would host the next Republican debate, but who will be on stage remains an open question,” the New York Times reports.
“The debate is scheduled for next Monday in Salt Lake City, with Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace as the moderators. But Donald Trump has said that ‘we had enough debates,’ and stated in a news conference on Friday that he thought that the CNN debate the night before was the last one.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“My whole life I have been told being humble is a virtue, and now being humble is a weakness, and being vain and self-absorbed is somehow a virtue.”
— Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), quoted by the Washington Post, blaming the disintegration of our culture for the rise of Donald Trump.
Cruz Doubles Down In Four States
“Ted Cruz’s campaign is infusing half a million dollars into television and digital ad buys slated to run in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina ahead of the contests in those states on Tuesday as the Texas senator seeks to become the GOP’s lone alternative to Donald Trump,” Politico reports.
“The influx of resources in those states signals that the Cruz campaign sees opportunities to close the gap with Trump in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina — three states that award delegates proportionally.”
Dreaming of a Contested Convention
Washington Post: “Take the quadrennial excitement of the Olympics, the winner-take-all jolt of the Super Bowl, add a few Roman gladiators and maybe a flyby of Halley’s Comet.”
“Put them all in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena with the insurgent Donald Trump and a desperate Republican establishment, and you have an election junkie’s paradise: A presidential nominating gathering that may — just may — resemble the political free-for-all of an old-school contested convention.”
North Carolina Officials Weigh Charges Against Trump
North Carolina officials are considering filing a charge of inciting a riot against Donald Trump, WRAL reports.
“North Carolina law defines a riot as ‘a public disturbance involving an assemblage of three or more persons which by disorderly and violent conduct, or the imminent threat of disorderly and violent conduct, results in injury or damage to persons or property or creates a clear and present danger of injury or damage to persons or property.’ Inciting a riot is a misdemeanor unless the disturbance causes serious injury or more than $1,500 in property damage, when it becomes a felony.”
Said one investigator: “We are concerned about a number of things in that speech. We are concerned about activity associated with that speech.”
Only Bad Options Left for Republicans
Join now to continue reading.
Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.
Warren Urges Voters to Denounce Trump
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called upon “decent people everywhere” to denounce Donald Trump, saying he is becoming a “bigger, uglier threat every day.”
Said Warren: “There’s no virtue in silence.”
Trump Insists There’s No Violence at His Rallies
Donald Trump “struck a dismissive tone Monday amid harsh scrutiny over the sometimes-violent clashes seen at his campaign rallies, insisting during an event here that violence has not been an issue,” the Washington Post reports.
Said Trump: “The press is now going, they’re saying, ‘Oh but there’s such violence.’ No violence. You know how many people have been hurt at our rallies? I think, like, basically none except maybe somebody got hit once.”
He added: “It’s a love fest. These are love fests. And every once in a while… somebody will stand up and they’ll say something… It’s a little disruption, but there’s no violence. There’s none whatsoever.”
Trump Breaks 50% as Rubio’s Support Collapses
A new Economist/YouGov Poll finds Donald Trump leading the GOP presidential race nationally with 53%, followed by Ted Cruz at 22%, John Kasich at 11% and Marco Rubio at 10%.
Inside Cruz’s Plan to Defeat Trump
“It sounds like a nightmare for Donald Trump’s opponents: The billionaire sweeps Ohio and Florida on Tuesday and storms ahead with more than half the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination,” Politico reports.
“But for Ted Cruz, it would be a dream — if it forces Marco Rubio and John Kasich to quit — that delivers the two-man contest he’s been wanting for months.”
For members: The Best Scenario to Block Trump
Quote of the Day
“Every day I’m grateful I’m not there.”
— Former Speaker John Boehner, quoted by the Cincinnati Enquirer, on his decision to retire.
Low Interest Among Illinois Democrats
A McKeon & Associates survey of Democratic races in Illinois found low interest and offered this caveat:
“Many voters refused to take the survey because they were not allowed to vote for or against Trump.”
