Subject: The Daily Trail: Inside the billion-dollar Trump fundraising plan
From: The Washington Post <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 11 May 2016 21:29:18 -0400

The Daily Trail from PowerPost
Sponsored by Qualcomm | Donors are reluctant, bundlers wary — but fundraisers begin at the end of the month.

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

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD70047143>

  Share on Twitter <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9pbnRlbnQvdHdlZXQ_dGV4dD1DaGVjayUyMG91dCUyMFRoZSUyMERhaWx5JTIwVHJhaWwlMjBmcm9tJTIwJTQwUG9zdFBvbGl0aWNzJTIwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy8mc291cmNlPXdlYmNsaWVudCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC1ec92c37>     Share on Facebook <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL3NoYXJlci9zaGFyZXIucGhwP3U9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy8md3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC03d23cca>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxMSZsYXlvdXQ9bWFycXVlZSZsaT0lN0IlN0JhZGhhc2glN0QlN0Qmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adBa2f925c7>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNCZzej0xMTZ4MTUmbGk9JTdCJTdCYWRoYXNoJTdEJTdEJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe786ad5f>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNSZzej02OXgxNSZsaT0lN0IlN0JhZGhhc2glN0QlN0Qmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD72abdd06>

Inside the billion-dollar Trump fundraising plan <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE70047143>

The plan: From zero to $1 billion in five months flat. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Nearly a year into his presidential bid, Donald Trump will participate in his first fundraiser benefiting his own campaign.

"An ambitious fundraising effort that aims to collect as much as $1 billion to support presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee is taking form, with plans to kick off an aggressive schedule of finance events in Los Angeles at the end of this month," report <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL3RydW1wLWZ1bmRyYWlzaW5nLW9wZXJhdGlvbi1yYW1waW5nLXVwLXdpdGgtbG9zLWFuZ2VsZXMta2ljay1vZmYvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC0dfc3d48> Matea Gold, Robert Costa and Philip Rucker. The push begins with an event at the home of investor Thomas Barrack Jr., who did real estate business with Trump in the 1980s.

"The dinner fundraiser is set to be the first of as many as 50 finance events that the campaign and party are racing to set up as they try to rapidly build out a structure to appeal to major donors. Trump's willingness to participate in the functions — after months of bashing other candidates for their ties to wealthy contributors — represents a dramatic shift in his posture."

Donald Trump has received roughly $50 million in donations since launching his campaign last summer. He'll now be looking to bring in four times that amount a month, for five months straight.

"The Trump campaign, which has no apparatus to solicit contributions, is now finalizing plans with the RNC to participate in a joint fundraising committee that can accept large contributions. The so-called victory fund is expected to be led by a group of senior party financiers, including Ray Washburne, a former RNC finance chairman, according to several people familiar with the plans. Washburne left his RNC post last year to serve as finance chairman for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's presidential campaign. In a brief phone conversation, Washburne declined to comment.

"It remains unclear who else will be part of the effort, but GOP officials are working to bring together a group of heavyweight party fundraisers with strong ties to major Republican donors in hopes of winning over reluctant contributors."

It's big money time. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

On the plus side: he doesn't have to worry about his big donors getting tapped out, because they're just now getting tapped in the first place. On the other hand...

"Trump faces an incredibly steep climb to raise the $1 billion that he has said is needed before November. While he has secured the backing of some prominent donors and fundraisers, including New York investor Anthony Scaramucci, many top GOP bundlers have been privately discussing their reservations about helping the real estate magnate raise funds. The angst is so acute that some have offered to quietly send over a list of the donors they know, but do not even want to be assigned a bundler number to get credit for the checks they bring in." So there's that.

READY TO MAKE NICE, NOT READY TO BACK DOWN:

The big summit is here. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

When Donald Trump meets with House Speaker Paul Ryan tomorrow, the pair will reportedly follow the same rule anyone embraces to help guarantee a successful first date or smooth family gathering: smile, keep the conversation a bit vague <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvcGF1bC1yeWFuLWZhY2VzLWludGVuc2UtcHJlc3N1cmUtdG8tcmVjb25jaWxlLXdpdGgtZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDdafc13f8> — and whatever you do, steer clear of obvious areas of disagreement <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA5L3dpbGxpYW0tYmVubmV0dC1hLWNsb3NlLWZyaWVuZC1vZi1yeWFuLWhpbnRzLWF0LXBsYW5zLWZvci10cnVtcC1tZWV0aW5nLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe3f80d34>. For the speaker and his party's presumptive presidential nominee, those no-go zones would include Ryan's signature policy achievement. 

"Five years ago, Paul Ryan stood on the House floor, assured of victory," reports <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2hhcy1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtc3RvbGVuLXBhdWwtcnlhbnMtcGFydHktb3V0LWZyb20tdW5kZXItaGltLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvMTJmZDRjNTQtMTcxOS0xMWU2LTkyNGQtODM4NzUzMjk1ZjlhX3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC09697605> David Fahrenthold. "'This is our defining moment,' he said.

"On that day in 2011, the House's new GOP majority approved Ryan's budget plan - which, in defiance of all political instincts,
called for cuts in a government program that voters knew and loved: Medicare. Ryan (R-Wis.), worried about debt, wanted eventually
to turn the the massive health-benefit program over to private insurers.

At the time, one particular Republican objected loudly and publicly. But he was nobody important. Just the host of 'The Celebrity
Apprentice.'

"'What he did is political suicide for the Republican Party,' Donald Trump said, in an interview recently dug up by Mother
Jones <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tb3RoZXJqb25lcy5jb20vcG9saXRpY3MvMjAxNi8wNS93YXRjaC1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtdHJhc2gtcGF1bC1yeWFuP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC156450dd>.

"Today, Ryan - now Speaker - still has the House. But Trump, it appears, has the party.

"On Thursday, the two men will meet in Washington, striving for party unity after Ryan refused to endorse Trump's presidential
bid. When he arrives, Trump will have nearly clinched the GOP nomination by running squarely against Ryan's vision of what
Republicanism is."

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vbmF0aW9uYWwvcnlhbi1pLWRvbnQtcmVhbGx5LWtub3ctdHJ1bXAvMjAxNi8wNS8xMS9mOGFkMjcyNC0xNzg3LTExZTYtOTcxYS1kYWRmOWFiMTg4NjlfdmlkZW8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC459be607>

Ryan: 'I don't really know' Trump

(Ryan: 'I don't really know' Trump)

Ryan is under "intense pressure" to reconcile with Trump, reports <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvcGF1bC1yeWFuLWZhY2VzLWludGVuc2UtcHJlc3N1cmUtdG8tcmVjb25jaWxlLXdpdGgtZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEdafc13f8> Mike DeBonis.

"If Ryan and Trump do not quickly move toward reconciliation — as Ryan has already hinted they won’t — the speaker will face immediate and mounting pressure to get behind a Trump candidacy, according to interviews with numerous GOP lawmakers.

"Should the two remain at odds, 'I think the consequences would be pretty severe, frankly,' said Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), one of a handful of early Trump endorsers in the House. 'I think they’d be more severe for the institution of the House than it would be for Donald Trump.'"

Of course, Trump and GOP leaders may never be on the same page, says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL3RydW1wLWFuZC1nb3AtbGVhZGVycy1taWdodC1uZXZlci1iZS1vbi10aGUtc2FtZS1wYWdlLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvMzFiN2I4M2MtMTc4Ny0xMWU2LTkyNGQtODM4NzUzMjk1ZjlhX3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCc814bb2a> Dan Balz: "Trump’s constituency is not that of the GOP leaders. His voters distrust Republican congressional leaders, almost as much as they dislike President Obama. ...Any effort to modulate his style as a way to try to satisfy the wishes of party leaders comes with the risk of lessening the enthusiasm of his core constituency."

He doesn't want to get too close to them. And the feeling is mutual. "As one GOP elected official put it this week: 'I hope he would just say, Okay, you guys write the platform, and I’m going to run my campaign. Other presidents have not paid a whole lot of attention to the platform anyway. I don’t think it’s a productive exercise to try to redefine what a Republican is. Because for most of us, what a Republican is, is not what he’s been running on."

(Then again...maybe Trump and Ryan aren't so far apart after all?

Trump chief policy adviser Sam Clovis told a group of deficit hawks today that entitlements actually are on the table, reported <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53c2ouY29tL2FydGljbGVzL3RydW1wLWFkdmlzZXItc2F5cy1oZXMtb3Blbi10by1lbnRpdGxlbWVudC1wcm9ncmFtLWNoYW5nZXMtMTQ2Mjk5Nzc1Nj9tb2Q9ZTJ0dyZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf7e4033d> the Wall Street Journal. Or at least: that they could be, if Trump is elected.

"After the administration has been in place, we will start to take a look at all of the programs, including entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare," Clovis told the audience at a Peter G. Peterson event in Washington, according to the Journal.)

Of course, it's not clear that that is Trump's personal view, rather than the view of the man who guides his policy proposals. But on Wednesday, Trump did appear to hold more than one position on several issues. Take the federal minimum wage:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9yZWFsRG9uYWxkVHJ1bXAvc3RhdHVzLzczMDQ5MzI5NTU1MDQ2ODA5Nj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC613dc7ce>

If you're wondering where she got that idea: probably from this <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5mb3JiZXMuY29tL3NpdGVzL3RpbXdvcnN0YWxsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDkvZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wcy1leGNlbGxlbnQtZWNvbm9taWMtaWRlYS1hYm9saXNoLXRoZS1mZWRlcmFsLW1pbmltdW0td2FnZS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbCMzNzNkYjZlNDc1NDY/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCd26b1cdf>. 

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwMSZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE3dde90c4>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adF00e8b332>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adG6a79bbf0>

(Trump also told NBC’s Meet the Press that he thinks wages should be higher, somehow. "People should get more. I think they’re out there. They’re working. It is a very low number," he said.)

SERVED COLD: Speaking of things Donald Trump says: Early in the 2012 primary season, he told Fox News  <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5mb3huZXdzLmNvbS90cmFuc2NyaXB0LzIwMTIvMDEvMTkvdHJ1bXAtZ29wLXN0b3AtcGxheWluZy1wcmVzaWRlbnQtb2JhbWFzLWhhbmRzLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCde0a0dce>he thought Mitt Romney's campaign had been was "hurt really very badly by this whole thing with the income tax returns." The former Massachusetts governor, he said, should have released them earlier.

Today, Donald Trump said he might not release his own tax returns <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL3RydW1wLXByb21wdGluZy1jcml0aWNpc20taW5kaWNhdGVzLWhlLW1heS1ub3QtcmVsZWFzZS10YXgtcmV0dXJucy1iZWZvcmUtZWxlY3Rpb24tZGF5Lz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCc0ca00a2> until after Election Day, if the audit process had not been completed before then — a move that would mark a significant break with precedent <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1pcy1idWlsZGluZy1hLWdpYW50LWJlYXV0aWZ1bC13YWxsLWJldHdlZW4tYW1lcmljYS1hbmQtaGlzLXRheC1yZXR1cm5zLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC96277a26>. Mitt Romney had some thoughts.

"There is only one logical explanation for Mr. Trump's refusal to release his returns: there is a bombshell in them," the 2012 Republican presidential nominee said on Facebook. "...while not a likely circumstance, the potential for inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations or other unsavory groups is simply too great a risk for someone who is seeking to become commander-in-chief." (bolding ours, not his, just because: that's the sort of past nominee-to-present nominee shade you don't come across all that often.)

Then Darrell Issa had his own thoughts about Mitt Romney's thoughts.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9NYXJsZW5hQ05OL3N0YXR1cy83MzA1MjEwMjUxMDkyMzM2NjQ_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC48f7c98b>

T. Boone Pickens <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnL3dpa2kvVC5fQm9vbmVfUGlja2Vucz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC83821669> also had some 2016 thoughts:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9QaGlsX01hdHRpbmdseS9zdGF0dXMvNzMwNTE5NDIzODUzODIxOTUyP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC23b508c6>

Finally, Trump himself had more thoughts <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vc3RvcnkvMjAxNi8wNS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtdGF4LXJldHVybnMtMjIzMTAxP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC34e17517> on Fox tonight: "So, the answer is, I’ll release. Hopefully before the election I’ll release. And I’d like to release." So: definitely maybe.

(If you're wondering what else Trump has said about the release of his returns: here are the rest of his responses, in one handy montage.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3Mvd2lsbC1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtZXZlci1yZWxlYXNlLWhpcy10YXgtcmV0dXJucy8yMDE2LzA1LzExL2Y2MzNhZjQ2LTE3YjgtMTFlNi05NzFhLWRhZGY5YWIxODg2OV92aWRlby5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC27e3e0e0>

Will Donald Trump ever release his tax returns?

SOME POST-PRIMARY #MATH: In West Virginia yesterday, Hillary Clinton nabbed 50 percent <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL25pbmUtYW1hemluZy1udW1iZXJzLWZyb20tdGhlLW1heS0xMC1wcmltYXJpZXMvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC0365d8c8> of the Democratic vote to 45 percent for Bernie Sanders — and lost overwhelmingly, the latest reminder why Sanders and his supporters are planning to push at the convention for every future primary to be open to independents <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL2luZGVwZW5kZW50cy1qdXN0LWRlbGl2ZXJlZC1hbm90aGVyLXN0YXRlLWZvci1iZXJuaWUtc2FuZGVycy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf40a7904>.

MORE #MATH:

What next? REUTERS/Dominick Reuter

Bernie Sanders won big last night. And the nomination slipped still further away.

"Bernie Sanders's back-to-back wins in Indiana and West Virginia give the Vermont senator both bragging rights and increased leverage at July's Democratic convention in Philadelphia. As scolds (like me) insist on pointing out, though, what it does not give him is any increased ability to actually win the nomination," notes <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL2hpbGxhcnktY2xpbnRvbi13aWxsLWFsbW9zdC1jZXJ0YWlubHktY2xpbmNoLXRoZS1kZW1vY3JhdGljLW5vbWluYXRpb24tb24tanVuZS03Lz90aWQ9c21fdHcmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC3e89bc9c> Philip Bump. "Barring an enormous catastrophe — not a small catastrophe — Hillary Clinton will clinch the party's nomination after votes come in June 7.

"There hasn't been much change to the math underlying that assumption in months. The Republican contest isn't over because Donald Trump clinched a majority before Clinton; he'll do so June 7 as well. It's over because his opponents dropped out, while Sanders hasn't. Trump's hold on his nomination continues to be less secure than Clinton's, but because of the way the Democrats give out delegates, it seems as though the opposite is true.

"After last night, Bernie Sanders needs about 66 percent of the remaining pledged Democratic delegates in order to pass Clinton's total. Even though he won most of the delegates last night, he won fewer than he needed to stay on track to pass her. So his magic number — the percentage of delegates he needs to win going forward — once again went up." 

Here's how far it rose:

So his chances of a primary season majority have officially ended. His campaign soldiers on.

In the meantime, two groups of Sanders staffers and supporters — groups that do not include the senator himself, or members of his inner circle, who haven't weighed in — are offering thoughts on what his post-primary path <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5jb20vc3RvcnkvMjAxNi8wNS9zYW5kZXJzLWJhY2tlcnMtcGxvdC1wb3N0LXByaW1hcnktd2FyLW9uLXRydW1wLTIyMzEwMD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCae1f60db> could look like: "Both efforts to sketch out the Sanders end-game are working under the premise that Hillary Clinton will likely be the party's nominee — but a standard-bearer who will struggle to bring Sanders voters along with her," reports Gabriel Debenedetti. "That’s led some of the discussions to focus on how best to use Sanders' vaunted email list to energize his backers against Trump, and whether to help down-ballot candidates who share Sanders’ views. ..." 

A milestone of sorts today for Sanders: he has finally been given his own Trump-ian nickname. ("Dangerous Donald" was of course bestowed on <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3dlLWdvdC10aGUtbGlzdC1vZi1uYW1lcy1mb3ItZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLXRoZS1kZW1vY3JhdGljLW5hdGlvbmFsLWNvbW1pdHRlZS1yZWplY3RlZC8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC78f4cd59>, not by, the mogul.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9yb2JmZXJkbWFuL3N0YXR1cy83MzA0MDU0OTg2NzIwNjI0NjU_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC9a4749a3>

THE VIEW FROM THE FIELD:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9KYWNvYm5iYy9zdGF0dXMvNzMwNTMzMTE3NTE0MTMzNTA0P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC272f092b>

THE VIEW FROM (REALLY, REALLY FAR) OFF THE TRAIL:

Activists of right-wing Hindu Sena or Hindu Army make offerings to the fire god while conducting Hindu rituals to ensure a win for U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. While Trump has dominated the Republican primary race to decide the party's candidate for the November election, his calls for temporarily banning Muslims from America and cracking down on terrorist groups abroad have earned him some fans in faraway India. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9iYXJyeWRldXRzY2gvc3RhdHVzLzczMDQ5Mzk0OTA5ODQ2MzIzMj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC7b015cae>

HILL FASHION REPORT: 

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9taWtlZGVib25pcy9zdGF0dXMvNzMwNTA5MzAwMzkzNzc5MjAwP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCa1c670ae>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9nZW9ma29zcy9zdGF0dXMvNzMwNTAxNDYzNjQyODY5NzY2P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb6c9f6f4>

NEWS CONSUMPTION: No matter how off-base the prediction, few pundits are ever willing to eat their words. Dana Milbank is one of those few <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL29waW5pb25zL2dldC1yZWFkeS10by1lYXQtaXQtYXMtdHJ1bXAtY2xpbmNoZXMtdGhlLW5vbWluYXRpb24taXRzLXRpbWUtdG8tZGluZS1vbi1teS13b3Jkcy8yMDE2LzA1LzA0LzcwYjliNGEwLTEyM2ItMTFlNi05M2FlLTUwOTIxNzIxMTY1ZF9zdG9yeS5odG1sP3RpZD1zbV90dyZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCffa2b8c2>.

"Seven months ago I said I would eat an entire column, newsprint and ink, if Trump won the nomination, calculating that Republican voters were better than Trump. The Republican voters let me down: Though a majority didn’t support him, enough did, and no viable alternative arose.

"But you, the reader, have revived my faith in America. I put out a call for recipes and you responded, via Twitter, Facebook, email and the comments section. Through the magic of crowdsourcing, I have discovered that eating newspaper can be downright mouth-watering. This is going to be huge! We are going to build a big, beautiful meal — and Mexico is going to pay for it.

"On Thursday, May 12, after readers have voted for their favorite newspaper cuisine, acclaimed chef Victor Albisu of Washington’s Del Campo restaurant will select and prepare a wide variety of newsprint-based dishes. Tom Sietsema, The Post’s James Beard Award-winning food critic, will be on hand to taste and judge the dishes, and I will eat them — streamed live on The Washington Post’s Facebook page <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL3dhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0Lz9mcmVmPXRzJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC768410db>."

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vZWRpdG9yaWFsL2ktcHJvbWlzZWQtdG8tZWF0LW15LWNvbHVtbi1pZi10cnVtcC1nb3QtdGhlLW5vbWluYXRpb24taW0ta2VlcGluZy1teS1wcm9taXNlLzIwMTYvMDUvMDQvZTEyZjk0NTItMTI3Mi0xMWU2LWE5YjUtYmY3MDNhNWE3MTkxX3ZpZGVvLmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC5c875df7>

A promise is a promise: Trump is the GOP nominee and I'll literally eat my words.

In case you're curious: here's his full Thursday menu — a gourmand's guide to the Editorial page.

And if you're wondering what sort of wine pairs well with a helping of crow...

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9NaWxiYW5rL3N0YXR1cy83MzA1MjYzMDE4NzA3OTY4MDA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf3415d1c>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwNCZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adHe1f13dc5>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adI00e8b332>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adJ6a79bbf0>

In need of their own stiff drinks, probably: Senate Republicans <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vbmV3cy90aGUtZml4L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvdGhlc2UtbmV3LXBvbGxzLXNob3VsZC1tYWtlLWRlbW9jcmF0cy1mZWVsLWdvb2QtYWJvdXQtd2lubmluZy1iYWNrLXRoZS1zZW5hdGUvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDbe1f23a6>. "We keep writing this sentence because it keeps proving true: Senate Democrats have a real shot at taking back the Senate this year," says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vbmV3cy90aGUtZml4L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvdGhlc2UtbmV3LXBvbGxzLXNob3VsZC1tYWtlLWRlbW9jcmF0cy1mZWVsLWdvb2QtYWJvdXQtd2lubmluZy1iYWNrLXRoZS1zZW5hdGUvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEbe1f23a6> Amber Phillips.

"The primaries, presidential nominees (one of them, in particular) and the polls appear to be falling into place to give Democrats the chance they need to unseat the four or five Republicans they need to take back the upper chamber. Democrats recently got their preferred candidates through two primaries; Donald Trump is Republicans' presumptive GOP nominee, which could put a drag on Senate Republicans; and now a new Quinnipiac University poll shows several key swing-state Senate races between GOP incumbents and their Democratic challengers very close." (More on the numbers here <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL3RoZXNlLW5ldy1wb2xscy1zaG91bGQtbWFrZS1kZW1vY3JhdHMtZmVlbC1nb29kLWFib3V0LXdpbm5pbmctYmFjay10aGUtc2VuYXRlLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe42a4e4e>.)

In related news: Trump told the Associated Press <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL3RoaXMtZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLWludGVydmlldy1zaG91bGQtc2V0LW9mZi1hbGwtc29ydHMtb2YtYWxhcm0tYmVsbHMtZm9yLXRoZS1nb3AvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDab3748f5> that data is "overrated" as a campaign tool: "My best investment is my rallies," he said. Chris Cillizza isn't going to tell Republicans how to feel about that statement or anything, but "if I were a Republican elected official in a swing state up for reelection this November or a party strategist charged with keeping control of the House or the Senate, Trump's AP interview would scare the crap out of me," he says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL3RoaXMtZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLWludGVydmlldy1zaG91bGQtc2V0LW9mZi1hbGwtc29ydHMtb2YtYWxhcm0tYmVsbHMtZm9yLXRoZS1nb3AvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEab3748f5>.

TRAIL MIX:

Oregon. / AFP PHOTO / Rob KerrROB KERR/AFP/Getty Images

—What money can buy: the super rich could give $1 billion <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3dwby5zdC9lWkdaMT93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC34241aef> to super PACs by June.

—With the GOP primary fight resolved, Cleveland may be moving <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbm4uY29tLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvcG9saXRpY3MvcmVwdWJsaWNhbi1kZWxlZ2F0ZXMtYmFjay1vdXQtZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC00562fdc> from hot destination to not for some delegates.

—The white supremacist who the Trump campaign said had been inadvertantly included in the delegate slate sent to the California Secretary of State's office has resigned <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL3RydW1wLW5vbWluYXRlcy10aGVuLWR1bXBzLXdoaXRlLXN1cHJlbWFjaXN0LWFzLWEtZ29wLWNvbnZlbnRpb24tZGVsZWdhdGUvMjAxNi8wNS8xMS8yMDI4MTQ4MC0xN2ExLTExZTYtOTI0ZC04Mzg3NTMyOTVmOWFfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe53203b6>: "They don't need the baggage," said William Johnson.

—The Trump campaign may be sparking "a surge" <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL3RydW1wcy1jYW5kaWRhY3ktc3BhcmtpbmctYS1zdXJnZS1pbi1jaXRpemVuc2hpcC12b3Rlci1hcHBsaWNhdGlvbnMvMjAxNi8wNS8xMS8zMzgwOGYzNC0xNzdhLTExZTYtOTI0ZC04Mzg3NTMyOTVmOWFfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC36adc6d1> in citizenship and voter applications, with the number of citizenship applications in the final quarter of 2015 up 14 percent over the same time period the year before.

—The Clinton campaign doesn't buy the new poll that shows Trump beating her in Ohio. They're fundraising off it anyway <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL2NsaW50b24tY2FtcGFpZ24tc2NhcmVzLXN1cHBvcnRlcnMtd2l0aC1wb2xsLXNob3dpbmctdHJ1bXAtYmVhdGluZy1oZXItaW4tb2hpby8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCc3e9120c>.

—New today: Ted Cruz is "not giving up," he says...he's running! for reelection to the Senate in 2018 <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzExL3RlZC1jcnV6LWZpbGVzLXRvLXJ1bi1mb3ItcmVlbGVjdGlvbi1pbi0yMDE4Lz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCec465788>.

POLITICIANS HATE 'HYPOTHETICALS.' WE DON'T!: 

Not the doughnuts in question. Beautiful anyway. (Photo Illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Let's say you're White House chief of staff in an administration where a top foreign policy aide has just said the typical White House reporter is an inexperienced 27-year-old who "knows nothing" — a characterization that is at least two-thirds wrong. (The remaining third is also wrong, but, you know: who's going to argue with 27? Ben Rhodes may deserve a fruit basket for that part.) Your desk sits in the same wing of the White House as a roomful of disgruntled reporters. What do you do?

If you're Denis McDonough, you probably tell yourself that this isn't awkward, because you will not let it be awkward. You and White House press secretary Josh Earnest go to the press area <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3RoZWhpbGwuY29tL2hvbWVuZXdzL2FkbWluaXN0cmF0aW9uLzI3OTUwMi13aGl0ZS1ob3VzZS1idXlzLWRvdWdobnV0cy1mb3ItcHJlc3M_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD6b1c8baa> and tell reporters that officials "appreciate what they do <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9tYXJra25vbGxlci9zdGF0dXMvNzMwMzk1ODU3NDg5Njk0NzIwP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC43684bfe>," which may or may not also be inaccurate, but is not insulting. You declare Wednesday "press appreciation day." And, most importantly, you bring doughnuts <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cDovL3RoZWhpbGwuY29tL2hvbWVuZXdzL2FkbWluaXN0cmF0aW9uLzI3OTUwMi13aGl0ZS1ob3VzZS1idXlzLWRvdWdobnV0cy1mb3ItcHJlc3M_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE6b1c8baa>. (You do not bring the foreign policy aide.) 

As long as we're talking awkward remarks: let's say you're the Senate Minority Leader, and a congressman campaigning to join your caucus confronts you over a comment in which you pointed to his ethics woes and said you hope he drops out. If you're Harry Reid, and Alan Grayson — currently running for Florida's open Senate seat — also tells you the allegation he improperly maintained a Cayman Islands hedge fund after his election isn't true, you tell him this: "It is true, and I want you to lose <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTEvaXQtaXMtdHJ1ZS1hbmQtaS13YW50LXlvdS10by1sb3NlLWZlaXN0eS1oYXJyeS1yZWlkLWxheXMtaW50by1hbGFuLWdyYXlzb24taW4tY2xvc2VkLWRvb3ItbWVldGluZy8_d3Bpc3JjPWZsX3Bvd2VycG9zdCZ3cG1tPTE/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC268d44ca>." 

YOUR DAILY TRAIL PIT STOP: If you like music, and you like dogs, then you'd probably love a musical dog. We have one for you here.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9DdXRlRW1lcmdlbmN5L3N0YXR1cy83MzAyMzcyNDY0MDI1OTY4NjU_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC82fa261b>

You are receiving this email because you signed up for The Washington Post's  <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3JlZ2lvbmFsLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb154fb60>Politics newsletters. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6704328.30902/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdWJzY3JpYmUud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJzLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCc0f5cb28>.

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