Subject: The Daily Trail: The day Ted Cruz hit his Trump threshold
From: The Washington Post <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 3 May 2016 18:52:05 -0400

The Daily Trail from PowerPost
...as Indiana voters seemed poised to deliver a blow to his struggling campaign.

If you're having trouble reading this, click here. <{{view_url}}>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDMvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXRoZS1kYXktdGVkLWNydXotaGl0LWhpcy10cnVtcC10aHJlc2hvbGQvNTcyOGI1ODY5ODFiOTJhMjJkNTA2MGVkLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDc36b58d9>

  Share on Twitter <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9pbnRlbnQvdHdlZXQ_dGV4dD1DaGVjayUyMG91dCUyMFRoZSUyMERhaWx5JTIwVHJhaWwlMjBmcm9tJTIwJTQwUG9zdFBvbGl0aWNzJTIwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDMvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXRoZS1kYXktdGVkLWNydXotaGl0LWhpcy10cnVtcC10aHJlc2hvbGQvNTcyOGI1ODY5ODFiOTJhMjJkNTA2MGVkLyZzb3VyY2U9d2ViY2xpZW50JndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCaee44f99>     Share on Facebook <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL3NoYXJlci9zaGFyZXIucGhwP3U9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDMvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXRoZS1kYXktdGVkLWNydXotaGl0LWhpcy10cnVtcC10aHJlc2hvbGQvNTcyOGI1ODY5ODFiOTJhMjJkNTA2MGVkLyZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC86ce1c0c>

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<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNCZzej0xMTZ4MTUmbGk9JTdCJTdCYWRoYXNoJTdEJTdEJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC56e894f2>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNSZzej02OXgxNSZsaT0lN0IlN0JhZGhhc2glN0QlN0Qmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDf55b7dff>

The day Ted Cruz hit his Trump threshold <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDMvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXRoZS1kYXktdGVkLWNydXotaGl0LWhpcy10cnVtcC10aHJlc2hvbGQvNTcyOGI1ODY5ODFiOTJhMjJkNTA2MGVkLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEc36b58d9>

It's Election Day in Indiana; the final polls close in just a few minutes (at 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET.) You can find full Democratic and Republican Indiana primary results — which are already streaming in — here <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tLzIwMTYtZWxlY3Rpb24tcmVzdWx0cy9pbmRpYW5hLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE7137dd18>, updated in real time, and the latest team coverage here <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC48cdb541>.

Saying things. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

We're old enough to remember when the Election Day news cycle could sometimes be a bit slow ahead of results. But it's getting harder, and not just because we're not as young as we used to be. It's because at this point, it is tough to recall a time before primary day was dominated by, say, a candidate claim that his rival's father might have had ties to President Kennedy's assassin.

Which, of course, is not a hypothetical example at all, because that is a thing that happened today.

This morning, Donald Trump told the Fox News Channel that Ted Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, had been seen with Lee Harvey Oswald around the time JFK was killed. 

"His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald being, you know, shot. I mean the whole thing is ridiculous. What is this? Right?" he said. "Prior to his being shot. And nobody even brings it up. I mean, they don't even talk about that — that was reported. And nobody talks about it."

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1xWW81bThSMHdjVSZmZWF0dXJlPXlvdXR1LmJlJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC723578d5>

DONALD TRUMP FULL INTERVIEW ON FOX & FRIENDS | FOX NEWS (5/3/2016)

"Trump seemed to be talking about a photo published last month by the National Enquirer that shows Oswald and another man distributing pro-Castro leaflets in New Orleans in 1963," report <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzAzL2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1hc3NvY2lhdGVzLXRlZC1jcnV6cy1mYXRoZXItd2l0aC1qZmtzLWFzc2Fzc2luLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCd6071188> Jenna Johnson and Sean Sullivan. "...At the time, the Cruz campaign told the Miami Herald: 'The story is false; that is not Rafael in the picture.'"

"Trump's timeline of this explosive accusation was rather unclear, with him seeming to reference an alleged meeting that happened both before Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963, and Oswald's death two days later. Trump later added: 'I mean, what was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death, before the shooting? It's horrible.'"

Ted Cruz did not react well to completely uncorroborated, evidence-free charges his father had met with a presidential assassin.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3MvY3J1ei1jYWxscy10cnVtcC1wYXRob2xvZ2ljYWwtbGlhci1zZXJpYWwtcGhpbGFuZGVyZXIvMjAxNi8wNS8wMy8yMjdhYWNkNC0xMTRkLTExZTYtYTliNS1iZjcwM2E1YTcxOTFfdmlkZW8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf4281224>

Cruz calls Trump 'pathological liar,' 'serial philanderer'

"I'm going to do something I haven't done for the entire campaign, for those of ya'll who have traveled with me all across the country," he told reporters <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzAzL3RlZC1jcnV6LXVubG9hZHMtb24tZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLWEtbmFyY2lzc2lzdC1hdC1hLWxldmVsLWktZG9udC10aGluay10aGlzLWNvdW50cnktaGFzLWV2ZXItc2Vlbi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD3f117495> in Indiana. "I'm going to tell you what I really think of Donald Trump."

Those thoughts included his opinion that Trump is:

—a "pathological liar" who "doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth."

—"utterly amoral"

—"terrified by strong women"

—"a narcissist"

—"proud of being a serial philanderer" (that description was part of a monologue <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzAzL3RlZC1jcnV6LXVubG9hZHMtb24tZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLWEtbmFyY2lzc2lzdC1hdC1hLWxldmVsLWktZG9udC10aGluay10aGlzLWNvdW50cnktaGFzLWV2ZXItc2Vlbi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE3f117495> on Trump infidelity that included the words "venereal disease.")

It was almost rough enough to make Trump's eventual response — that Cruz was "desperate" and "unhinged" — seem mild by comparison. (Almost.) But the Texas senator's "kitchen-sink strategy won't work — for one very specific reason," says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzAzL3RlZC1jcnV6LWlzLW1hZC1hcy1oZWxsLWF0LWRvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1oZS1zaG91bGQtYmUtYW5ncnktYXQtaGltc2VsZi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD9aa033ac> Chris Cillizza: Even though it's certainly not too little, it's definitely too late. 

"Trump has effectively turned Cruz into "Lyin' Ted" in the eyes of lots and lots of Republican primary voters — in Indiana and everywhere else."

The aggressive pushback by Cruz is also complicated by previous statements like this one, tweeted ahead of the first primary votes (remember December? We were all so much younger then!)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS90ZWRjcnV6L3N0YXR1cy82NzUzNjAyOTk3NDcxODQ2NDA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCea891d38>

"The reason Cruz played nice with Trump then was patently obvious to anyone with even a passing knowledge of how politics works: Cruz thought Trump would eventually flame out and wanted to make sure he was in position to scoop up all of the former Trump voters," says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzAzL3RlZC1jcnV6LWlzLW1hZC1hcy1oZWxsLWF0LWRvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1oZS1zaG91bGQtYmUtYW5ncnktYXQtaGltc2VsZi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE9aa033ac> Cillizza.

"The roots of what everyone expects to happen tonight in Indiana — a Trump win — began to grow months ago when Cruz, short-sightedly, refused to say what he really thought of Trump. Doing so today is way too little and way too late to save Cruz's chances in the Hoosier State and maybe in the race."

Even if it accomplished nothing else, the Trump-Cruz brawl did birth the campaign meme of the day:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9Tb25ueUJ1bmNoL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc0ODc1MDk4MjgwODc4MDg_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC4d1b13de>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS90bWkzcmQvc3RhdHVzLzcyNzUwNDkzNzMxMjA4ODA2NT93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC86ca1186>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS90bWkzcmQvc3RhdHVzLzcyNzUwNDc0MzMxMjkzNjk2NT93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC8093e851>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS90cHJvYnVzL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc0ODgyMjgwMzEyMjE3NjA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC70177252>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qdExPTC9zdGF0dXMvNzI3NTA0MzkxODM0NTg3MTM2P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC7992ab22>

The Cruz campaign got in on the action too. Sort of.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9Sb25OZWhyaW5nL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1MDk1MzgyNzA2NDIxNzY_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC89f34438>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9Sb25OZWhyaW5nL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1MDk3NTY4MDY1MDAzNTY_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCd3ac77a4>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9Sb25OZWhyaW5nL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1MDk5MTc5OTM1ODY2ODg_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCeda82ee0>

All of this, of course, came at a time when the GOP once again seemed to be on the verge of consolidating — with varying degrees of reticence — around its front-runner. If the overall reaction follows previous patterns, today may not short-circuit that process. But it certainly won't accelerate it.

< http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9NYXJrU2FsdGVyNTUvc3RhdHVzLzcyNzUwMDQ5MTk2MjMzOTMyOD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC79af9a31>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwMSZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEce823b4a>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adF3563ad73>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adG6c6fbcef>

One more note: We found summarizing today's events...a challenge. We're not alone.

"How on earth is the media supposed to cover Trump’s wacky JFK-Cruz conspiracy theory?" wondered <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzAzL2hvdy1vbi1lYXJ0aC1pcy10aGUtbWVkaWEtc3VwcG9zZWQtdG8tY292ZXItdHJ1bXBzLXdhY2t5LWpmay1jcnV6LWNvbnNwaXJhY3ktdGhlb3J5Lz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC61eb0cf0> Callum Borchers.

"...Trump has once again said something wacky that the media can't refute with total certainty (this is an ongoing problem <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE1LzExLzI0L3doeS10aGUtbWVkaWEtd29udC1zYXktZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLWlzLWx5aW5nLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCca1f0662>). The Cruz campaign has said the man in question is not the candidate's father <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5taWFtaWhlcmFsZC5jb20vbmV3cy9wb2xpdGljcy1nb3Zlcm5tZW50L2FydGljbGU3MzQ0OTI5Ny5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb13cf80f>, but there is no easy way to prove a negative. So the media are left to point out the lack of credible evidence supplied by Trump and the Enquirer without actually asserting that the report is fiction. It's a dance that has been repeated many times over..."

It's also a good possible preview of what Trump's fall message could be, says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzAzL3RoZS1vcmlnaW5hbC1jbGludG9uLXJ1bW9yLWRlYnVua2Vycy1zaG91bGQtcHJlcGFyZS1mb3ItYS1idXN5LXllYXIvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC076c2284> Philip Bump, who predicts that "the folks at Snopes.com <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zbm9wZXMuY29tLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC5c652eb1> should expect record traffic over the next six months."

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9kYmVybnN0ZWluL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1MTUyNzA3MzkyNzE2ODA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC871f2ddd>

Another possible fall preview: If Donald Trump can repurpose Bernie Sanders's Clinton attack lines, then...

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hc2VpdHp3YWxkL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1ODQ1OTcwMzUzNzI1NDk_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb76359f6>

Trump in South Bend, Ind. yesterday. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

It's worth noting that Donald Trump didn't need to generate critical headlines to dominate the primary day news cycle, with late polls suggesting he'd surged to a double-digit lead on Cruz, with John Kasich a distant third. "This was supposed to be the pragmatic Midwestern state that would deny Donald Trump the delegates he needs to secure the Republican presidential nomination. Yet on the eve of Tuesday’s critical primary, Indiana appeared poised to help the front-runner get closer to locking it up," report <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL3RydW1wLXNlZXMtYS1kZWNpc2l2ZS1pbmRpYW5hLXZpY3RvcnktYXQtaGFuZC1nZWFycy11cC10by10YWtlLW9uLWNsaW50b24vMjAxNi8wNS8wMi9lYWEzOTJkYS0xMDcwLTExZTYtODFiNC01ODFhNWM0YzQyZGZfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC67838a1b> Philip Rucker, Dave Weigel and Sean Sullivan.

"The Indiana primary, with 57 delegates at stake, stands in the minds of many Republicans as the last major hurdle for Trump to clear. Cruz and his allies have poured every resource and maneuver at their disposal into the state in an urgent, last-ditch effort to derail the controversial billionaire mogul.

"'They not only put all their chips in the Indiana basket, but they made it very clear how desperate they’ve become. They have tried everything imaginable,' said Pete Seat, a well-connected GOP operative here whose firm has advised the campaign of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the third Republican left in the race. 'It feels like this is slipping away from Ted Cruz pretty rapidly.'

"...On a frenetic final day of campaigning here, Cruz faced uncomfortable questions about the viability of his floundering candidacy. Although he previously held up Indiana as a must-win state, the senator from Texas argued Monday that he could sustain a loss and still force a contested party convention and wrest the nomination from Trump in Cleveland."

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9NYXR0TmVncmluL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1ODI2MDY2NDk0MDEzNDU_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC0f233bb1>

(Yes.)

With Trump and Clinton poised for a strong showing: a closer look at what the early exit poll notes tell us about today's voters, via Washington Post polling director Scott Clement (with the usual asterisk that these numbers don't account for early voting)

—6 in 10 Republicans said they want the next president to come from outside the political establishment, according to preliminary exit poll results reported by ABC News <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2FiY25ld3MuZ28uY29tL1BvbGl0aWNzL2xpdmUtaW5kaWFuYS1yZXB1YmxpY2FuLXByaW1hcnktZXhpdC1wb2xsLWFuYWx5c2lzL3N0b3J5P2lkPTM4ODQyODUyJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb35b7a98> — higher than the 52 percent average in contests so far this year. Trump has won outsider voters in previous contests by an average of 47 percentage points.

—Nearly half of Republican primary voters support deporting undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., higher than the 41-percent average in previous contests this year. And slightly more Republicans say Cruz has run the most unfair campaign than say the same of Trump (more than 4 in 10, vs. less than 4 in 10.)

—On the Democratic side, the trends also continue: exit polling reported by ABC News <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2FiY25ld3MuZ28uY29tL1BvbGl0aWNzL2xpdmUtaW5kaWFuYS1kZW1vY3JhdGljLXByaW1hcnktZXhpdC1wb2xsLWFuYWx5c2lzL3N0b3J5P2lkPTM4ODQzMzE2JndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCd4e4095d> suggests 6 in 10 Democrats find Bernie Sanders more inspiring than Hillary Clinton, and just over half of Democrats say Clinton is honest and trustworthy, compared with over 8 in 10 who say the same of Sanders. Neither Clinton nor Sanders has a clear advantage on the issue of electability in a matchup with Trump — a shift from past contests where Clinton held an edge.

—Liberals accounted for 7 in 10 Democratic primary voters, marking a roughly 30-point increase from 2008 and higher than the average in contests so far this year. And 7 in 10 Democratic voters are white, higher than the average of 63 percent in contests with exit polls this year. 

—Clinton held the advantage on offering realistic policies, with nearly 8 in 10 saying her ideas are realistic compared with just over 6 in 10 for Sanders.

THE VIEW FROM THE FIELD: HOOSIER WINNER? EDITION

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9EYW5ueUVGcmVlbWFuL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1ODc0OTE2MDgzMjIwNDk_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC4e99c1fa>

icymi (and given today's headline acts, who could blame you?): Cruz surrogate Steve Lonegan told CNN <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbm4uY29tLzIwMTYvMDUvMDMvcG9saXRpY3MvdGVkLWNydXotc3RldmUtbG9uZWdhbi1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtaGlsbGFyeS1jbGludG9uLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCa34dc3b4> Donald Trump is "Hillary Clinton with a penis."

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly92aW5lLmNvL3YvaXhyRVpXWkZ1dnU_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC11947000>

Why Steve?

John Kasich is holding two D.C. press conferences this week. And has he got a deal for you:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9LRmF1bGRlcnMvc3RhdHVzLzcyNzU1NTE1ODMzNTQzMDY1Nz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCcd7a8582>

A Senate Republican fundraising email included a veepstakes "poll" with some...unexpected selections. (Including at least one who is currently ineligible for the presidency <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3BhZ2VzaXguY29tLzIwMTMvMTAvMTgvc2Nod2FyemVuZWdnZXItbW91bnRpbmctbGVnYWwtY2hhbGxlbmdlLXRvLXJ1bi1mb3ItcHJlc2lkZW50Lz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC3c6d8fe9>, per the Twelfth Amendment.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9idXJnZXNzZXYvc3RhdHVzLzcyNzU2OTkwMTE1MDQ3MDE0Nj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe9ec46cc>

#ThrowbackTuesday (yes. We know this is not a thing): The return of an old meme.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93cGplbm5hL3N0YXR1cy83MjczMTE5MjQxODcyODM0NTc_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC86eb539c>

Hillary Clinton has already put Indiana behind her; she spent the day in the upcoming primary state of West Virginia (where this happened yesterday)...

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3MvYW5nZXItZ3JlZXRzLWhpbGxhcnktY2xpbnRvbi1pbi13ZXN0LXZpcmdpbmlhcy1jb2FsLWNvdW50cnkvMjAxNi8wNS8wMy9iNzk4OTg3ZS0xMGZmLTExZTYtYTliNS1iZjcwM2E1YTcxOTFfdmlkZW8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC318d9016>

Anger greets Hillary Clinton in West Virginia's coal country

...and a fall battleground, Ohio, where she stumped with a possible running mate for whoever tops the Democratic ticket: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ydWJ5Y3JhbWVyL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1NjE4MzcwNjQxNjc0MjQ_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC7d70c3ab>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ydWJ5Y3JhbWVyL3N0YXR1cy83Mjc1OTEwNTgzNjA2ODA0NTA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCc74131ae>

More #Ohio:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qZW5lcHMvc3RhdHVzLzcyNzU3MzMyNjA2MzkwNjgxNj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC2f2a7d77>

Bernie Sanders is moving on too:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qZWZmemVsZW55L3N0YXR1cy83Mjc2MTc2OTA0Mjk0NjA0ODE_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC3ffc0656>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwNCZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adH5b7d9df8>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adI3563ad73>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adJ6c6fbcef>

TRAIL MIX: Veteran GOP strategist Ed Rollins will be top strategist of the pro-Trump Great America PAC, reports <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vYmxvZ3MvMjAxNi1nb3AtcHJpbWFyeS1saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMtYW5kLXJlc3VsdHMvMjAxNi8wNS9lZC1yb2xsaW5zLXJlYWdhbi1wcm8tdHJ1bXAtc3VwZXItcGFjLTIyMjc1Mj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC811511e9> Alex Isenstadt.

—Trump is now beating Ted Cruz nearly two-to-one among unbound Republican delegates, says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL2FiY25ld3MuZ28uY29tL1BvbGl0aWNzL2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1nYWlucy1ncm91bmQtdW5ib3VuZC1kZWxlZ2F0ZS1yYWNlLWdyYXNzcm9vdHMvc3Rvcnk_aWQ9Mzg4MjE0MDMmY2lkPWFiY25wX3RjbyZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC0f5356fe> ABC.

—Bernie Sanders spent $1.5 million on Indiana ads, to Hillary Clinton's $0, per an analysis <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uYmNuZXdzLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy9maXJzdC1yZWFkL2NydXotYW50aS10cnVtcC1mb3JjZXMtc3BlbmQtNm0taW5kaWFuYS1haXJ3YXZlcy1uNTY3MDMxP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC9875714f> by SMG Delta reported by NBC. The estimated spending by pro-Cruz/anti-Trump forces: $6 million, to Trump's $960,000.

—Here's an LA Times deep dive on the GOP's non-endorsement endorsement <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sYXRpbWVzLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy9sYS1uYS10cnVtcC10b3J0dXJlZC1sYW5ndWFnZS0yMDE2MDUwMy1zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf8036791> trend.

—Longread: Long before #NeverTrump, there was "Anybody But Carter <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vbWFnYXppbmUvc3RvcnkvMjAxNi8wNS93aGF0LW5ldmVydHJ1bXAtY2FuLWxlYXJuLWZyb20tYW55Ym9keS1idXQtY2FydGVyLTIxMzg2MD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCfdac1057>"

—Party healing watch, GOP edition. Bobby Jindal last September, on Donald Trump: "He is an unserious, unstable, narcissistic egomaniac." Jindal today <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vYmxvZ3MvMjAxNi1nb3AtcHJpbWFyeS1saXZlLXVwZGF0ZXMtYW5kLXJlc3VsdHMvMjAxNi8wNS9ib2JieS1qaW5kYWwtdm90ZS1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtMjIyNzUxP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC9bf6642a>: "If he is the nominee I will be voting for him, I will be supporting him."

Of course, he wasn't the only former GOP presidential candidate to weigh in today:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9MaW5kc2V5R3JhaGFtU0Mvc3RhdHVzLzcyNzYwNDUyMjE1NjIyODYwOD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCfd80586a>

—Party healing watch, Democratic edition: Today, the Sanders campaign sent a fundraising message about Clinton's joint fundraising agreement with the DNC that was signed by campaign manager Jeff Weaver and featured this subject line:

A final reminder that you can find full Indiana results — and delegate counts — here tonight <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tLzIwMTYtZWxlY3Rpb24tcmVzdWx0cy9pbmRpYW5hLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adF7137dd18>.

(Reporting election results is a tricky business; one temporary technical glitch can launch a thousand conspiracy theories <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA0LzI3L3RoZS1jb25zcGlyYWN5LXRoZW9yeS1kdS1qb3VyLWRpZC10aGUtd2FzaGluZ3Rvbi1wb3N0LXN0ZWFsLWRlbGF3YXJlLXZvdGVzLWZyb20tYmVybmllLXNhbmRlcnMvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe72b3375>. If you want to know where the numbers we're reporting tonight come from, check this explainer out <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tLzIwMTYtZWxlY3Rpb24tcmVzdWx0cy9pbmRpYW5hLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adG7137dd18>.)

YOUR DAILY TRAIL PIT STOP: Continuing this week's literary theme <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDIvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXRydW1wLXMtYXVyYS1vZi1pbmV2aXRhYmlsaXR5LWdpdmVzLWhpbS1hLWJpZy1ib29zdC1pbi1pbmRpYW5hLzU3Mjc5NDBhOTgxYjkyYTIyZDRkMzMyMi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC386c2568>: Primary season #poetry, via The Post's Alexandra Petri (you can find the full 'Cruz-adise Lost' here <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2Jsb2dzL2NvbXBvc3Qvd3AvMjAxNi8wNS8wMi9qb2huLW1pbHRvbnMtdGVkLWNydXotYWRpc2UtbG9zdC8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC882da04d>.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6644890.10550/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9wZXRyaWRpc2hlcy9zdGF0dXMvNzI3NTgyNDU2NzE1NjE2MjU2P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC8fe4b287>

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