Subject: RE: For Review: Sign ‘o The Times
From: "Walker, Eric" <[email-masked]>
To: "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>, "Freundlich, Christina" <[email-masked]>, "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>, "Walsh, Tom" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:39:22 -0700

Another angle to include – the agreement doesn’t make any sense. Kasich pulling out of a state that borders OH to focus on a state that borders TX? And Cruz has been cleaning up in the rural west – why would Oregon be ‘Kasich country’ on the GOP side?

Off record pitch: I think Kasich is getting played. Pulling out of a state he can win to focus on 2 states he can’t. Sounds like Cruz taking him for a ride.

From: Walker, Eric
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2016 12:29 PM
To: Paustenbach, Mark; Freundlich, Christina; Miranda, Luis; Walsh, Tom
Subject: RE: For Review: Sign ‘o The Times

Story’s changed I think… Kasich just said on CNN that he would compete in Indiana.
I think the frame here is that this half-baked idea is less than 24 hours and it’s already falling apart. Why? Because Trump is the true representative of the GOP platform…. Yadda yadda on policy.

From: Paustenbach, Mark
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2016 12:21 PM
To: Freundlich, Christina; Miranda, Luis; Walker, Eric; Walsh, Tom
Subject: For Review: Sign ‘o The Times

SL: Sign ‘o The Times
With Donald Trump’s recent sweeping victories, it’s clear he’s the only candidate that can win the Republican nomination. As a result, the GOP remains in chaos and a few recent events mean that things won’t be getting any better.

Last night, Ted Cruz and John Kasich announced they’ve entered an unusual agreement<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/24/cruz-and-kasich-devise-strategy-to-divide-up-three-primary-states/> to save their failing campaigns— dividing their efforts in states with upcoming primaries to stop Trump from clinching more victories. Of course, it’s too little, too late.

Kasich and Cruz’s desperate attempts to thwart Trump’s inevitable nomination doesn’t end with the new agreement. The two candidates, who are now mathematically eliminated and are hoping to stop Trump at their convention in Cleveland, are now attempting to change the story and generate buzz by talking about possible running mates. Yes, really. On Sunday, Kasich said<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-kasich-my-campaign-is-vice-presidential-candidates/> it’s possible he will name his vice presidential pick by June, ahead of the Republican Party’s convention in July. Cruz has already begun<http://www.dallasnews.com/news/20160413-cruz-quietly-opens-vp-search-but-convention-fight-with-trump-complicates-task.ece> using campaign resources to look at possible running mates.

And pandering to any audience he speaks to, Cruz has resorted to flip flopping<https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/on-policies-ted-cruz-shifts-his-stance-to-suit-a-fractured-gop/2016/04/23/818accee-070d-11> his policy positions, saying anything to stop Trump. From immigration to tax policy, Cruz’s campaign promises have been altered in an effort to keep up with Trump.

“Look past their desperate attempts to stay relevant and remember that Kasich and Cruz have no chance of winning the nomination without plunging their party into further chaos at their convention in Cleveland. The GOP is still in denial – Trump hasn’t taken over the party, their leadership over the years has promoted the divisive policies allowed Trump to flourish.” – DNC National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach