Subject: The Daily Trail: Why Sanders claimed one of Clinton's biggest 2008 states
From: The Washington Post <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 10 May 2016 21:29:08 -0400

The Daily Trail from PowerPost
Sponsored by Qualcomm | Per exit polls, what a Clinton loss in West Virginia means — and what it doesn't.

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<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNCZzej0xMTZ4MTUmbGk9JTdCJTdCYWRoYXNoJTdEJTdEJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCa4454d25>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNSZzej02OXgxNSZsaT0lN0IlN0JhZGhhc2glN0QlN0Qmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDe7714596>

Why Sanders claimed one of Clinton's biggest 2008 states <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXdoeS1zYW5kZXJzLWNsYWltZWQtb25lLW9mLWNsaW50b24tcy1iaWdnZXN0LTIwMDgtc3RhdGVzLzU3MzIyZTAyOTgxYjkyYTIyZDcyYjBmZi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE62eb5354>

It's election night again! No, our Tuesdays are no longer "super", but we'd still make the case for "at least mildly interesting." Donald Trump won <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2NsaW50b24tdGVzdHMtZ2VuZXJhbC1lbGVjdGlvbi1tZXNzYWdlcy1pbi1maW5hbC1zdHJldGNoLW9mLXByaW1hcnktY29udGVzdHMvMjAxNi8wNS8xMC9mOGQyZjM0ZS0xNmJjLTExZTYtOTI0ZC04Mzg3NTMyOTVmOWFfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD9ocGlkPWhwX3JocC10b3AtdGFibGUtbWFpbl93ZXN0LXZpcmdpbmlhLTZwbTpob21lcGFnZS9zdG9yeSZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEe8434da5> both Nebraska and West Virginia (we mention this for the record even though, if he didn't win one of the remaining primary season states: you'd probably hear about it pretty quickly.) 

Bernie Sanders also claimed victory in West Virginia, in a race he'd been widely expected to win. And in Nebraska — whose Democratic delegates were decided weeks ago via caucuses Sanders won easily — Clinton held a double-digit lead in early returns from the non-binding primary.

We'll have updated delegate counts here <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tLzIwMTYtZWxlY3Rpb24tcmVzdWx0cy91cy1wcmltYXJpZXMvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCd331f6ae>, and full coverage here <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2NsaW50b24tdGVzdHMtZ2VuZXJhbC1lbGVjdGlvbi1tZXNzYWdlcy1pbi1maW5hbC1zdHJldGNoLW9mLXByaW1hcnktY29udGVzdHMvMjAxNi8wNS8xMC9mOGQyZjM0ZS0xNmJjLTExZTYtOTI0ZC04Mzg3NTMyOTVmOWFfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD9ocGlkPWhwX3JocC10b3AtdGFibGUtbWFpbl93ZXN0LXZpcmdpbmlhLTZwbTpob21lcGFnZS9zdG9yeSZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adFe8434da5>, because we're following this thing till the bitter end.

Looking at the only real race today between active candidates: if you remember the 2008 primary season, you may have dim memories of Clinton winning over West Virginia voters. Big. 

It appears the voters themselves voters did not.

Lexington, Kentucky. REUTERS/John Sommers II

"Eight years ago, after her path to the Democratic presidential nomination had seemingly run out, Hillary Clinton found salvation in West Virginia," reports <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL3dlc3QtdmlyZ2luaWEtb25jZS1jbGludG9uLWNvdW50cnktbGVhbnMtdG8tc2FuZGVycy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC228a7cfe> Dave Weigel. "The state's still-dominant Democratic voters gave her a 41-point landslide victory, with wins in every county."

Today, she lost it to a democratic socialist — basically conceding defeat before the polls even opened by moving on to other states further on in the primary calendar and going dark on the air in West Virginia, even as Sanders kept campaigning there.

"...Yet today, Clinton is expected to lose the state, having moved elsewhere as Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) barnstormed, and gone dark on the air, as she did in Indiana. In every West Virginia poll, the candidate who won every county last time is trailing the democratic socialist from Vermont." Why?

—Her first weak spot: the Obama administration's environmental policies. "Clinton and Sanders basically share the environmental position...But Clinton has been pummeled by Republicans for a tin-eared answer to a question about this, at a CNN town hall in March." ("...we're going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business, right, Tim? And we're going to make it clear that we don't want to forget those people.") Sanders, with basically the same position, never faced an attack about it. 

—There's also trade policy. "'A big part of the industry in West Virginia is metallurgical coal,' Larry Cohen, the former Communications Workers of America president and a close Sanders ally, said. 'Bernie's saying, let's not move the steel industry to China. You add to that his commitment to transportation infrastructure and he's got much more to say to voters in West Virginia.'

—Finally: there's something else different about Hillary Clinton's primary season opponent this year. "Sanders also lacks one of the vulnerabilities Democrats hated to admit about Barack Obama in West Virginia. He is white. In the most infamous result from 2008's exit poll, 22 percent of Democratic primary voters said that race was a factor in their votes. Eighty-two percent of them backed Clinton. Seven percent of all voters cast ballots for John Edwards, who by that point had been out of the race for three months. Supporters of Sanders are well aware that the candidate may win votes that Obama lost, for the simple reason of race. ..."

Some of the Sanders crowd in Stockton, California today. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

In one way, today's results don't matter at all: even a Sanders blowout won't change the delegate math enough to shift the race. But "a Sanders triumph Tuesday night in West Virginia [gives] the senator's supporters one of their biggest 2016 upsets, and the biggest turnarounds in a state that backed Clinton. With the Republican primary functionally over, a big defeat for Clinton might kick off weeks of negative coverage, while Sanders cops her 2008 message and insists he is the more electable candidate.

"It's the reason that Clinton's campaign is advertising again, in Kentucky. And it's a reason why the protest vote in West Virginia, where a felon won 41 percent of the vote just by running against Obama in 2012, will be watched almost as closely as the victory margin."

Right now, West Virginia looks like Trump country. (Photo by Mark Lyons/Getty Images)

There's no doubt that Clinton has struggled with white voters in more than a few contests this year. But the string of defeats in states where those voters dominate might not be a total loss, say <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2NsaW50b24tdGVzdHMtZ2VuZXJhbC1lbGVjdGlvbi1tZXNzYWdlcy1pbi1maW5hbC1zdHJldGNoLW9mLXByaW1hcnktY29udGVzdHMvMjAxNi8wNS8xMC9mOGQyZjM0ZS0xNmJjLTExZTYtOTI0ZC04Mzg3NTMyOTVmOWFfc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adG5fb8c82a> Abby Phillip, John Wagner and Anne Gearan.

"Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton may have found a purpose to the string of primaries against Bernie Sanders this month that she is expected to lose: to connect with working-class white voters who may be crucial in a general-election match-up against Donald Trump.

"Polls have consistently shown Clinton trailing Sanders not only in Tuesday’s primary in West Virginia, but also in Kentucky and Oregon a week later — and Washington the week after that.

"Those losses are not expected to cut significantly into Clinton’s lead in the Democratic nominating process. And while her recent flurry of appearances in these states may be designed to improve her performance against Sanders, they are also allowing her to test messages that may help her make gains with a core Trump constituency: white voters."

Of course, she's trying to make those inroads by campaigning as the anti-Trump. In contrast to Trump's massive rallies; Clinton spent the runup to the West Virginia primary "holding small, intimate meetings with voters." Where he resists releasing policy details, she's focused on promoting her own, including a call Tuesday in Kentucky for <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL2NsaW50b24tdG8tcGxlZGdlLXRoYXQtbm8tZmFtaWx5LXBheXMtbW9yZS10aGFuLTEwLXBlcmNlbnQtb2YtaW5jb21lLW9uLWNoaWxkLWNhcmUvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCd17a654f> "substantial new investments" in federal child care subsidies for lower-income families and tax breaks for middle-class families.

And where Trump has tried to avoid being tied down on policy specifics, her team is trying to do it for him, releasing a spot calling his tax platform "risky, reckless and regressive":

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3MvaGlsbGFyeS1jbGludG9uLXRoZS1wYXJ0eS1vZi10cnVtcC0tY2FtcGFpZ24tMjAxNi8yMDE2LzA1LzA1LzVkNGZjMjBjLTEyYjctMTFlNi1hOWI1LWJmNzAzYTVhNzE5MV92aWRlby5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb4be4eee>

Hillary Clinton: The party of Trump | Campaign 2016

Whether the Trump counter-programming resonates or not, either Democratic candidate would likely find both West Virginia and Kentucky some pretty tough terrain this fall: in early exit polls <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbm4uY29tL2VsZWN0aW9uL3ByaW1hcmllcy9wb2xscy93di9EZW0_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC1aa19b08>, roughly 1 in 3 of the party's primary voters said they would back the presumptive GOP nominee over either Clinton or Sanders.

Exit poll numbers should be taken with liberal servings of salt, but there were two other interesting bullets in the early numbers, via Washington Post polling director Scott Clement: the Vermont senator's supporters were slightly more likely than Clinton's to say they'd back Trump in November if the mogul faced off against their primary day pick. Sanders also beat Clinton 2-to-1 in early exit polls among voters who said they wanted a president less liberal than President Obama.

(The most likely explanations for both stats: either these voters have somehow managed to filter out most of this year's primary season — or their votes today were more anti-Clinton than pro-Sanders, and 2008 was a very, very long time ago.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9Qb2xpdGljb0NoYXJsaWUvc3RhdHVzLzczMDE1NDc0NjIyOTYyNDgzMj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC4b9f7b8d>

From the early vote counts (Judd is the convicted felon who won 40 percent of the vote <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5leHByZXNzbmV3cy5jb20vbmV3cy90ZXhhcy9hcnRpY2xlL0FmdGVyLTIwMTItc3R1bm5lci1leC1jb24tbWFrZXMtYW5vdGhlci1XaGl0ZS03NDUxODMxLnBocD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC2a9c06f3> in West Virginia's 2012 Democratic presidential primary.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9wYnVtcC9zdGF0dXMvNzMwMTk2MTUzMDc4Mjg4Mzg0P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCfdfde4b9>

"#ThrowbackTuesday" is not a thing, but...if it were, this would be the WV Democratic primary edition:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CZXNjaGxvc3NEQy9zdGF0dXMvNzMwMTg0OTI0OTAxMTc5MzkyP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC092cae0c>

GOP PARTY HEALING UPDATE:

One day more. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwMSZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEe647924d>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adFf0f5d52b>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adG19de1618>

Settle in — you may be waiting a while.

Back on the Hill today, Ted Cruz said Republicans have "plenty of time" to decide whether to back Trump (and that he has "no interest" in a third party bid this year. What does he want next? Amber Phillips took a closer look <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL3RlZC1jcnV6cy1kaWxlbW1hLXNob3VsZC1oZS1zdGF5LXRoZS1ndXktd2FzaGluZ3Rvbi1sb3Zlcy10by1oYXRlLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC194e231b>.) 

And Paul Ryan "downplayed expectations for a quick reconciliation with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying it will 'take more than a week' to unify the party," reported <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvcGF1bC1yeWFuLWdvcC11bml0eS13aWxsLXRha2UtbW9yZS10aGFuLWEtd2Vlay8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC04401548> Mike DeBonis.

"...If we just pretend we’re unified without actually unifying, then we’ll be at half-strength in the fall, and that won’t go well for us," the House speaker said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal's Gerald Seib broadcast on Facebook.

"We will [win the presidency] if we all, as conservatives, rally around principles and advance a common agenda," he said. "I believe can do that, but we can’t fake it. We can’t pretend. We have to actually unify and do it."

Related — INBOX: Well played, Team Ryan. (By the way, here's the list <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2RvY3MuaG91c2UuZ292L2Zsb29yLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb8edb71c> she's referring to.)

Then again: some reporters begged to differ <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvYmFpdC1hbmQtc3dpdGNoLXJ5YW4tYWlkZXMtdGVhc2UtdHJ1bXAtbmV3cy10by1oaWdobGlnaHQtb3Bpb2lkLWJpbGxzLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC5c8336ea> with that assessment.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qYmFycm8vc3RhdHVzLzczMDA3MzI4NTk4NDA2NzU4NT93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC66342416>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qYmFycm8vc3RhdHVzLzczMDA3MzQ0MDM1MTE5MTA0MD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCac7dcdd6>

TODAY, IN TRUMP SURROGATES: Mike Huckabee had some thoughts <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnV6emZlZWQuY29tL2NocmlzdG9waGVybWFzc2llL2h1Y2thYmVlLXRydW1wLWhhc250LXRob3VnaHQtdGhyb3VnaC1ldmVyeS1pc3N1ZS1hbmQtd29udC1oYT91dG1fdGVybT0uZXJSamtxcXhtJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWwjLmJ5YTBPUVFSNw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC53081bfe> for New York's "The Bernie and Sid Show" on Donald Trump's readiness for the presidency:

Speaking of Trump surrogates: Corey Lewandowski is now leading the VP selection process <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL3RydW1wcy1jYW1wYWlnbi1tYW5hZ2VyLXdpbGwtb3ZlcnNlZS10aGUtdmljZS1wcmVzaWRlbnRpYWwtc2VhcmNoLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe2f4f47d> (which is working from a list of 5-6 candidates, Trump told the Associated Press today <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2JpZ3N0b3J5LmFwLm9yZy9hcnRpY2xlL2VkODUzZTJmODRiZDQyNjU4ODY4YTQyZjk5N2M5M2ZlL2FwLWludGVydmlldy1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtc2F5cy1oZXMtbmFycm93ZWQtdnAtc2hvcnRsaXN0P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC131def0e>. Yes, Chris Christie is on it. No, Marco Rubio is not — or if he is, he might as well not be <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbm4uY29tLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvcG9saXRpY3MvbWFyY28tcnViaW8tZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLXZpY2UtcHJlc2lkZW50L2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDd0343e65>.)

So where does that leave Ben Carson <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVkYWlseWJlYXN0LmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL2Jlbi1jYXJzb24taXMtb2ZmLXRydW1wLXMtdnAtdmV0dGluZy10ZWFtLmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC5588a74c>, who was last spotted playing a leading role in that search?

"'What Trump wanted from Carson were names of who he would recommend for a potential candidate. He was among several other people making recommendations,' Carson associate Armstrong Williams told The Daily Beast. 'Once those names were submitted, they decided to have Lewandowski head up.'" Carson's focus right now, per Williams: making sure everything goes well <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA5L2Jlbi1jYXJzb24tYS10cnVtcC1lbWlzc2FyeS1yZXF1ZXN0cy1hLXByZS1tZWV0aW5nLXdpdGgtc3BlYWtlci1yeWFuLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC6bda512d> with Thursday's Trump/Ryan meeting.

Later, the Trump campaign said their surrogate's surrogate had been a bit off-base (with one unnamed Trump aide in CNN's report <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbm4uY29tLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvcG9saXRpY3MvYmVuLWNhcnNvbi1hcm1zdHJvbmctd2lsbGlhbXMtdmljZS1wcmVzaWRlbnQvaW5kZXguaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCec5458ff> on the question apparently using a word we're not really supposed to print here at The Washington Post, because we are a family newspaper.) Long story short: per all parties, Carson is still involved in the VP selection process. 

One more Trump surrogate note: The surest route to cable news stardom this year appears to be declaring yourself one of the mogul's supporters. Here's why. <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3ZpZGVvL3BvbGl0aWNzL3RoZXNlLTMtcHVuZGl0cy1iYWNrZWQtdHJ1bXAtbm93LXRoZXlyZS1jYWJsZS1uZXdzLXN0YXJzLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvYmE3N2Y0NDgtMTZkZC0xMWU2LTk3MWEtZGFkZjlhYjE4ODY5X3ZpZGVvLmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC1853c086>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3MvdGhlc2UtMy1wdW5kaXRzLWJhY2tlZC10cnVtcC1ub3ctdGhleXJlLWNhYmxlLW5ld3Mtc3RhcnMvMjAxNi8wNS8xMC9iYTc3ZjQ0OC0xNmRkLTExZTYtOTcxYS1kYWRmOWFiMTg4NjlfdmlkZW8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe4253fad>

These 3 pundits backed Trump, now they're cable news stars

Trump himself ramped up his general election offensive Tuesday. Today's battlefields included the Bill Clinton front...

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9yZWFsRG9uYWxkVHJ1bXAvc3RhdHVzLzczMDExODA4NDA0MDcyNDQ4Mj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC6008bcaf>

(slightly awkward side note):

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9HbGVubktlc3NsZXJXUC9zdGF0dXMvNzMwMTIwODgwNTQ2ODQ4NzY4P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCa98096b3>

...and the Benghazi front, by way of a new web ad that ends with Clinton smiling broadly, super-imposed over footage of burning buildings intended to represent the diplomatic compound at Benghazi. 

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3MvZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLWhpbGxhcnktaGFzLWJhZC1qdWRnbWVudC1jYW1wYWlnbi0yMDE2LzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvOTExYjUzZjgtMTZlMC0xMWU2LTk3MWEtZGFkZjlhYjE4ODY5X3ZpZGVvLmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb6f3fc5a>

Donald Trump: 'Hillary has bad judgment!' Campaign 2016

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwNCZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adH37e2441e>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adIf0f5d52b>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adJ19de1618>

On that note: here's a preview of tomorrow's attacks, today: "Near the beginning of a recent interview, an FBI investigator broached a topic with longtime Hillary Clinton aide Cheryl Mills that her lawyer and the Justice Department had agreed would be off limits, according to several people familiar with the matter," reports <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3dvcmxkL25hdGlvbmFsLXNlY3VyaXR5L2NsaW50b24tYWlkZS1sZWF2ZXMtaW50ZXJ2aWV3LW9uY2UtdGhlLWZiaS1icm9hY2hlcy1hbi1vZmYtbGltaXRzLXRvcGljLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvY2NlNWUwZTgtMTYxYy0xMWU2LWFhNTUtNjcwY2FiZWY0NmUwX3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCfe000792> Matt Zapotosky.

"Mills and her lawyer left the room — though both returned a short time later — and prosecutors were somewhat taken aback that their FBI colleague had ventured beyond what was anticipated, the people said.

"Investigators consider Mills — who served as chief of staff while Clinton was secretary of state — to be a cooperative witness. But the episode demonstrates some of the tension surrounding the criminal probe into possible mishandling of classified information involving the leading Democratic presidential candidate. In the coming weeks, prosecutors and FBI agents hope to be able to interview Clinton herself as they work to bring the case to a close. ..."

Clinton herself was in Kentucky today:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9kYW5tZXJpY2FDTk4vc3RhdHVzLzczMDE1NzM2MDQwOTQxOTc3Nj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC4ee3c617>

TRAIL MIX: He's the presumptive nominee — yet the delegate headaches continued for Donald Trump <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcHMtZGVsZWdhdGUtaW5lcHRpdHVkZS1zdHVtYmxlcy1pbnRvLXdoaXRlLW5hdGlvbmFsaXNtLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC662f410c> with a report today that his campaign had accepted prominent white nationalist <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tb3RoZXJqb25lcy5jb20vcG9saXRpY3MvMjAxNi8wNS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtd2hpdGUtbmF0aW9uYWxpc3QtYWZwLWRlbGVnYXRlLWNhbGlmb3JuaWE_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adDc67a2ab3> William Johnson as a delegate in California. The campaign first said the report was false <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9jYW1fam9zZXBoL3N0YXR1cy83MzAxNTE2MjQ1NTE4NzQ1NjA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC8803a50a>, then said Johnson had previously been rejected but a database error  <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hbGl2aXRhbGkvc3RhdHVzLzczMDE0ODY2NTg2ODgzMjc3MD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf4b0ea7b>had led to his accidental inclusion in the delegate list sent to the California Secretary of State. 

(The story ended with <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tb3RoZXJqb25lcy5jb20vcG9saXRpY3MvMjAxNi8wNS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtd2hpdGUtbmF0aW9uYWxpc3QtYWZwLWRlbGVnYXRlLWNhbGlmb3JuaWE_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEc67a2ab3> another Trump supporter quote that seems far more likely to wind up in a Democratic ad than an actual Trump spot: "'For many, many years, when I would say these things, other white people would call me names: Oh, you're a hatemonger, you're a Nazi, you're like Hitler,' [Johnson] confessed. 'Now they come in and say, Oh, you're like Donald Trump.'") 

—Marco Rubio told CNN <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jbm4uY29tLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvcG9saXRpY3MvbWFyY28tcnViaW8tZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLXZpY2UtcHJlc2lkZW50L2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adEd0343e65> he "stands by" the things he said about Trump during the primary season, but he's not going to "become his chief critic over the next six months": "I signed a pledge, put my name on it, and said I would support the Republican nominee and that's what I intend to do," he said. (On a related note: Alexandra Petri noted <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2Jsb2dzL2NvbXBvc3Qvd3AvMjAxNi8wNS8wOS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtaXMtdGVycmlibGUtZ29vZC10aGluZy10aGVyZXMtdGhpcy1ub21pbmVlLWd1eS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD5593f9ed> the growing tendency of some leading Republicans to treat Trump as He Who Must Not Be Named: "Donald Trump is terrible. Good thing there's this 'nominee' guy <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2Jsb2dzL2NvbXBvc3Qvd3AvMjAxNi8wNS8wOS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtaXMtdGVycmlibGUtZ29vZC10aGluZy10aGVyZXMtdGhpcy1ub21pbmVlLWd1eS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE5593f9ed>!") 

—Rubio was a bit clearer on what isn't next for him after he leaves the Senate: "I'm not going to become a lobbyist and I'm not going to run for governor in 2018," he told Jake Tapper. Which leaves...

—If you're someone who thinks there's been too much coverage of this year's presumptive Republican nominee: yes, there is a Trump-free corner of the globe <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ibG9vbWJlcmcuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2FydGljbGVzLzIwMTYtMDUtMDkvZXNjYXBpbmctMjQtaG91ci1jb3ZlcmFnZS1vZi1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtaXMtZWFzeS1pbi1ub3J0aC1rb3JlYT93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCd5fb5c87>: "On the streets of Pyongyang, no one has heard of Donald Trump."

—As President Obama heads to Hiroshima, get ready for the return of the "apology tour" narrative <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL29iYW1hcy10cmlwLXRvLWhpcm9zaGltYS1hbmQtdGhlLWxvb21pbmctYXBvbG9neS10b3VyLW5hcnJhdGl2ZS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC175169ca>.

—Vice President Biden told ABC News <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL2FiY25ld3MuZ28uY29tL1BvbGl0aWNzL3ZpY2UtcHJlc2lkZW50LWpvZS1iaWRlbi1jb25maWRlbnQtaGlsbGFyeS1jbGludG9uLWRlbW9jcmF0aWMvc3Rvcnk_aWQ9MzkwMTQ0NTQmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf9ba7eb5> (or maybe: Bernie Sanders, by way of ABC News? Discuss.) that he's "confident" Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee and win in November.

—Sen. John Thune wants hearings <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvdW5mcmllbmRlZC1zZW5hdG9yLWhpdHMtenVja2VyYmVyZy1vdmVyLWFsbGVnZWQtYW50aS1jb25zZXJ2YXRpdmUtYmlhcy1hdC1mYWNlYm9vay8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC08bc27db> over allegations of anti-conservative bias in Facebook's "Trending" section.

—Heidi Cruz compared her husband's campaign to efforts to end slavery: "Be full of faith and so full of joy that this team was chosen to fight a long battle," she said on a conference call with the campaign's National Prayer Team, reported <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGV4YXN0cmlidW5lLm9yZy8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL2hlaWRpLWNydXotbGlrZW5zLWh1c2JhbmRzLWVmZm9ydHMtc2xhdmVyeS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC526d4654> the Texas Tribune. "Think that slavery — it took 25 years to defeat slavery. That is a lot longer than four years." Ted Cruz himself seemed to say that he might consider re-entering the race if he won the Nebraska. That was a joke, probably <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzEwL2NydXotam9rZXMtYWJvdXQtcmUtZW50ZXJpbmctcmFjZS1pZi1oZS13aW5zLW5lYnJhc2thLXByaW1hcnkvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC44acc1dc>. 

Asked later about that comment comment, Cruz seemed to echo his wife's long game message, chuckling and telling reporters that anyone looking to see him back on the trail "might have to wait a little longer."

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vbmF0aW9uYWwvY3J1ei1pZi1jaXJjdW1zdGFuY2VzLWNoYW5nZS13ZS13aWxsLXJlYXNzZXNzLzIwMTYvMDUvMTAvY2M2NzViOWUtMTZmMS0xMWU2LTk3MWEtZGFkZjlhYjE4ODY5X3ZpZGVvLmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCdfa31189>

Cruz: 'If circumstances change we will' reassess

BEYOND THE TRAIL:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9kYXZld2VpZ2VsL3N0YXR1cy83MzAxMjk3OTM2NjA4ODI5NDQ_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCdf8ad1dc>

Last week, President Obama said the 2016 campaign was "not a reality show <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L29iYW1hLW9uLXRydW1wLXRoaXMtaXMtbm90LWVudGVydGFpbm1lbnQtdGhpcy1pcy1ub3QtYS1yZWFsaXR5LXNob3cvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC782e3030>."

Tonight, a Trump senior adviser had a different take.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6696551.31062/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9NaWNoYWVsTGFSb3NhREMvc3RhdHVzLzczMDE3MzIwMTQ3NzY2ODg2NT93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC71c83f0d>

(Six more months.)

YOUR DAILY TRAIL PIT STOP: HAPPY HOUR EDITION Anheuser Busch announced today that to kick off its "most patriotic summer ever," it will be temporarily renaming Budweiser beer "America." 

On the one hand, to accept this name change would mean to accept calling "America" cheap — or overpriced, depending on where you're sitting at happy hour — and tasteless, which we do not feel comfortable doing. On the other hand: this change could make day drinking feel slightly less sad, slightly more patriotic. So. We could go either way on this. Either way, it's happening.

Tastes like freedom, and frat night. (Photo credit: AnheuserBusch.com)

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