Subject: The Daily Trail: Romney courted to challenge Trump
From: The Washington Post <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 6 May 2016 21:34:05 -0400

The Daily Trail from PowerPost
During a Thursday discussion, he was urged to think about an independent bid.

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<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDYvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXJvbW5leS1jb3VydGVkLXRvLWNoYWxsZW5nZS10cnVtcC81NzJjOWRkZTk4MWI5MmEyMmQ1OTk4YzUvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD91c968a4>

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<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxMSZsYXlvdXQ9bWFycXVlZSZsaT0lN0IlN0JhZGhhc2glN0QlN0Qmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adB47acb489>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNCZzej0xMTZ4MTUmbGk9JTdCJTdCYWRoYXNoJTdEJTdEJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC184677b4>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcxNSZzej02OXgxNSZsaT0lN0IlN0JhZGhhc2glN0QlN0Qmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD7fb27c86>

Romney courted to challenge Trump <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy9wYWxvbWEvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLzIwMTYvMDUvMDYvdGhlLWRhaWx5LXRyYWlsLXJvbW5leS1jb3VydGVkLXRvLWNoYWxsZW5nZS10cnVtcC81NzJjOWRkZTk4MWI5MmEyMmQ1OTk4YzUvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE91c968a4>

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

One 2016 presidential fight is over. Another is still on the drawing board....but the clock is ticking.

"In spite of his insistence that he will not run, Mitt Romney is being courted this week by a leading conservative commentator to reconsider a jump into the volatile 2016 presidential race as an independent candidate," reports <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L21pdHQtcm9tbmV5LW1ldC1wcml2YXRlbHktd2l0aC13aWxsaWFtLWtyaXN0b2wtd2hvLWlzLWxlYWRpbmctdGhlLWVmZm9ydC10by1kcmFmdC1hbi1pbmRlcGVuZGVudC1iaWQvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC740c88f8> Robert Costa.

"William Kristol, the longtime editor of The Weekly Standard magazine and a leading voice on the right, met privately with the 2012 nominee on Thursday afternoon to discuss the possibility of launching an independent bid, potentially with Romney as its standard-bearer.

"'He came pretty close to being elected president so I thought he may consider doing it, especially since he has been very forthright in explaining why Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton should not be president of the United States,' Kristol said in a phone interview Friday, where he confirmed that he and Romney had a 'little meeting in Washington.'

"But knowing Romney's reluctance, Kristol told Romney that if he remains unwilling to run, many top conservatives would appreciate having the former Massachusetts governor’s support for an independent candidate, should he and other right-leaning figures enlist a willing contender.

"'Obviously, if there were to be an independent candidacy, Romney’s support would be very important,' Kristol said. 'I wanted to get his wisdom on whether it was more or less doable than I thought.'

"'It was not like, You should do it. I wouldn’t presume he’d do it. But I’m hoping that he begins to think about it a little more,' Kristol said. 'His name is one of the names [that are] part of the discussion.'

(Anyone thinking about it would have to think fast: the deadline for an independent candidate to make it onto the ballot in Texas — a must-win general election state for any conservative contender — is Monday.)

Omaha. REUTERS/Lane Hickenbottom

The talk about finding a new conservative standard-bearer came amid a late-week stretch in which the list of Republicans who said they just couldn't support their party's presumptive presidential nominee continued to grow.

Some, like Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), said they just weren't ready <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2xvY2FsL3ZpcmdpbmlhLXBvbGl0aWNzL3Zpcmdpbmlhcy1yZXAtYmFyYmFyYS1jb21zdG9jay1ub3QtcmVhZHktdG8tdm90ZS1mb3ItZG9uYWxkLXRydW1wLzIwMTYvMDUvMDYvYmEzNjRmYTQtMTNhNy0xMWU2LTg5NjctN2FjNzMzYzU2ZjEyX3N0b3J5Lmh0bWw_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC149caf65> yet; others, like Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, said nothing at all, except that they wouldn't be endorsing Trump this year, or attending the Republican convention this summer. The Club for Growth officially bowed out of the fight for the White House Friday, saying <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9Tb3BhbkRlYi9zdGF0dXMvNzI4NjE1ODA1MDkzNTg4OTkzP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC9edee6eb> it would focus solely on races further down the ballot. And former Trump rivals Jeb Bush <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2plYmJ1c2gvcG9zdHMvODc2NzAyMTcyNDU4ODI3P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCc4c41ffb> and Lindsey Graham <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3Nlbi1saW5kc2V5LWdyYWhhbS13b250LWJhY2stdHJ1bXAtb3ItYXR0ZW5kLWNvbnZlbnRpb24vP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD364d1e05> both said they'd be staying home in November. And a lot more <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vbmV3cy9wb3N0LXBvbGl0aWNzL3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMDYvc2VuLWxpbmRzZXktZ3JhaGFtLXdvbnQtYmFjay10cnVtcC1vci1hdHRlbmQtY29udmVudGlvbi8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC3390edd4>.

("God help me. I #StandWithGraham," wrote  <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5yZWRzdGF0ZS5jb20vam9lc3F1aXJlLzIwMTYvMDUvMDYvZ29kLWhlbHAtbWUuLXN0YW5kd2l0aGdyYWhhbS4vP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCec3a5270>a RedState columnist. "...this is a strange era in politics. Nothing makes sense anymore.")

As GOP division deepened, Trump's presidential pivot was still a work in progress. On Friday, he feuded with <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvdGhlLWZpeC93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1hbmQtam9lLXNjYXJib3JvdWdoLWp1c3Qtc3RhcnRlZC1mZXVkaW5nLW9uLXR3aXR0ZXIvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCa0bd07c3> MSNBC host Joe Scarborough; released one public statement contradicting <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1hZ3JlZXMtdG8tbWVldC13aXRoLXBhdWwtcnlhbi1iZWZvcmUtd2UtZ28tb3VyLXNlcGFyYXRlLXdheXMvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD5b0d934c> morning remarks by RNC chair Reince Priebus; and sent out another statement after Graham's unendorsement claiming <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3Nlbi1saW5kc2V5LWdyYWhhbS13b250LWJhY2stdHJ1bXAtb3ItYXR0ZW5kLWNvbnZlbnRpb24vP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE364d1e05> that he had "single handily [sic] destroyed" the South Carolina senator — who, he said, was "beyond rehabilitation."

He also took another swipe at House Speaker Paul Ryan:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9yZWFsRG9uYWxkVHJ1bXAvc3RhdHVzLzcyODU1NzA3NDE2MzA2MDczNj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCa05a5e77>

But by mid-afternoon, Thursday peace talks had been scheduled, with Trump agreeing to meet <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcC1hZ3JlZXMtdG8tbWVldC13aXRoLXBhdWwtcnlhbi1iZWZvcmUtd2UtZ28tb3VyLXNlcGFyYXRlLXdheXMvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE5b0d934c> with Ryan "before we go our separate ways." 

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9QUnlhbi9zdGF0dXMvNzI4NjUxNzkyOTE4MTU1MjY4P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC350878f5>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwMSZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE85ee30f7>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adF9a623b8a>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adG2a5a88ad>

(I think I can speak for many of my colleagues on the political beat when I say: so do we.)

 

Ryan's resistance may offer some vulnerable Republicans a life raft, says <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3J5YW5zLXJlc2lzdGFuY2UtdG8tdHJ1bXAtbWF5LW9mZmVyLXJlcHVibGljYW5zLWEtbGlmZS1yYWZ0Lz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCc191933d> Dave Weigel. But this morning, as Trump tweeted his barb at Ryan, Reince Priebus was pledging to help smooth things over, and predict <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3JuYy1jaGFpcm1hbi1wcmllYnVzLXByZWRpY3RzLXJ5YW4td2lsbC1zdXBwb3J0LXRydW1wLXBsZWRnZXMtdG8taGVscC1zbW9vdGgtdGhpbmdzLW92ZXIvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD7c91bbd0>ing that the speaker would eventually back the primary seaosn victor. 

(At the same morning event, Priebus was asked "whether there is any way someone other that Trump could be nominated at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland,"  reported <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3JuYy1jaGFpcm1hbi1wcmllYnVzLXByZWRpY3RzLXJ5YW4td2lsbC1zdXBwb3J0LXRydW1wLXBsZWRnZXMtdG8taGVscC1zbW9vdGgtdGhpbmdzLW92ZXIvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE7c91bbd0> Sean Sullivan. That scenario is "highly, highly doubtful," he said, although "nothing’s impossible.")

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9jc3Bhbi9zdGF0dXMvNzI4NTcyNzA5NjI2NDcwNDAwP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCcd6f1e9e>

As some former Trump foes double down on their opposition, others are throwing in their cards.

"Pass the Prilosec," said <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL21hbnktcmVwdWJsaWNhbnMtYXJlLWVhdGluZy10aGVpci1uYXN0eS13b3Jkcy1hYm91dC10cnVtcC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2LzM1ZWE0NTA4LTEzYWItMTFlNi04OTY3LTdhYzczM2M1NmYxMl9zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCfa0d5cd5> Karen Tumulty. "Rarely have so many nasty words had to be eaten by so many politicians in such a short time.

"Former Texas governor Rick Perry had been early among Republicans in declaring that Donald Trump was unfit to be president, saying last July that his then-rival for the presidential nomination was a 'barking carnival act' and a 'cancer on conservatism.'

"That was then.

"On Thursday, Perry endorsed the GOP’s nominee-apparent — and even suggested he would be willing to be Trump’s running mate.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vdmlkZW8vcG9saXRpY3MvZ29wLWVzdGFibGlzaG1lbnRzLXNwbGl0cy1vdmVyLXN1cHBvcnRpbmctdHJ1bXAvMjAxNi8wNS8wNi8wZWE3ZGM2Mi0xMzY1LTExZTYtYTliNS1iZjcwM2E1YTcxOTFfdmlkZW8uaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCeb7b88f8>

GOP establishment splits over supporting Trump

(Video: Watch the GOP establishment split over Trump.)

"'He is not a perfect man. But what I do believe is that he loves this country and he will surround himself with capable, experienced people and he will listen to them,' Perry said.

"For Republicans further down the ballot, the balance is a tricky one: How to avoid alienating Trump’s supporters, without being tied too closely to him?"

There is "a political calculation to treating Trump as the Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort — whom the novel series’ characters refer to as He Who Must Not Be Named."

"There are people who don’t want to be on videotape at home endorsing 'Trump,'" said Newt Gingrich, a trump supporter. "But that’s fine."

COULD THERE BE A CONVENTION FLOOR FIGHT AFTER ALL?

Kentucky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Some Republicans may be ready to reluctantly embrace their party's front-runner. Bernie Sanders is not.

Today, the Vermont senator sent the DNC a letter saying he'd be launching a floor fight <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2Jsb2dzLndzai5jb20vd2FzaHdpcmUvMjAxNi8wNS8wNi9zYW5kZXJzLXRocmVhdGVucy1mbG9vci1maWdodC1vdmVyLWNvbnZlbnRpb24tY29tbWl0dGVlcy8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCb8877093> in Philadelphia unless they appointed more of his supporters to some key convention committees.

"It is my hope we can quickly resolve this in a fair way," he wrote <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly9iZXJuaWVzYW5kZXJzLmNvbS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAxNi8wNS9TYW5kZXJzLUxldHRlci10by1ETkMtNS42LjE2LnBkZj93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe27c43bb>, saying Sanders voters would be "silenced" without more of his backers on the credentials, platform and rules committees. "If the process is set up to produce an unfair, one-sided result, we are prepared to mobilize our delegates to force as many votes as necessary to amend the platform and rules on the floor of the convention."

Before a convention Armageddon, Sanders will have to make it past his California Masada: his fundraising machine has started to flag, with cash reserves running low, just as he approaches perhaps the most expensive battleground of the primary season.

Then again, in California, he can spend down his war chest like there's no tomorrow, one Democratic consultant told the Los Angeles Times <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sYXRpbWVzLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy9sYS1uYS1zYW5kZXJzLWZ1bmRyYWlzaW5nLWNhbGlmb3JuaWEtMjAxNjA1MDUtc3RvcnkuaHRtbD93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC58567b72> — because after June 7, there isn't: "This is the end of the line. There's nothing to save it for after this."

(Speaking of Democratic floor fights: if you're looking for a fun weekend #longread, or have an appetite for more nomination intrigue, here's a great sum <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubG9jLmdvdi9yci9tYWluL2RlbW9jcmF0aWNfY29udmVudGlvbnMucGRmP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC45defb5b> of what went down at nearly every Democratic convention ever, going all the way back to the one back in 1832 when they officially became known as the "Democratic Party" in the first place.)

Also complaining about how the Democratic Party is treating Bernie Sanders: Donald Trump, who in Nebraska today again compared his own struggle against a "rigged" primary system to the one Sanders is waging now.  

(Semi-related stat! For the first three months of 2016, Trump tweeted nothing positive about Sanders. Last month, he tweeted about the Vermont senator twice, both times positive. Over the past three days: four times, all sympathetic or positive. Discuss.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93cGplbm5hL3N0YXR1cy83Mjg2OTYyNTMwNzMyMDcyOTc_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC34cadbd7>

THE VIEW FROM THE FIELD:

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93cGplbm5hL3N0YXR1cy83Mjg2OTEyNDcxNjcyMjU4NjA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCdcf9564d>

On Thursday, Donald Trump told West Virginia supporters several times to just stay home on Tuesday, since he didn't need their votes. Leaving aside the question of whether that's true or not — more Trump delegates in Cleveland to weigh in on rules and platform questions can't hurt — with a key judicial race on the ballot Tuesday, the West Virginia Republican Party actually could <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tYWNraW5hYy5vcmcvMjIzODM_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC759f1d36>  use those votes.

In Nebraska today, a message shift: Trump told voters half a dozen times that even though the presidential primary was over, they should still head to the polls next week.

But the Republican primary seasons's demise may have an effect on the GOP's  <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMDYvY2FsaWZvcm5pYS1yZXB1YmxpY2Fucy1jYW4tbm8tbG9uZ2VyLXJlbHktb24tdHJ1bXAtdG8tZ2V0LW91dC10aGUtdm90ZS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adD29ad2ffe>downballot chances in California anyway, say some of the party's strategists: the combination of lower Republican turnout and California's nonpartisan primary system (where the top two vote-getters for any office face off in the fall, regardless of party) may make for red hot Democrat-on-Democrat runoff action in November, with the California GOP watching from the sidelines, reports <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG93ZXJwb3N0L3dwLzIwMTYvMDUvMDYvY2FsaWZvcm5pYS1yZXB1YmxpY2Fucy1jYW4tbm8tbG9uZ2VyLXJlbHktb24tdHJ1bXAtdG8tZ2V0LW91dC10aGUtdm90ZS8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE29ad2ffe> Vanessa Williams.

But Trump is now helping his party out in tangible way as Chris Christie's decision to back him starts to pay off, literally: the mogul is scheduled to appear at a fundraiser to help pay off the New Jersey governor's presidential campaign debt and benefit the state GOP. "While the gathering is not being coordinated with the Republican National Committee, it marks one of the first instances of Trump making an effort to raise money as the party’s presumptive nominee," notes <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3RydW1wLXRvLWFwcGVhci1hdC1uLWotZ29wLWZ1bmRyYWlzZXItbW9zdGx5LWFzLWEtZmF2b3ItdG8tY2hyaXN0aWUvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC02eba717> Robert Costa.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9tYXR0bWZtL3N0YXR1cy83Mjg2NzMxNTEwMzk3NDYwNTA_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf99160ee>

Like Christie — whose love for Bruce Springsteen has gone unreturned <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uZXdzd2Vlay5jb20vaGlzdG9yeS1jaHJpcy1jaHJpc3RpZS1icnVjZS1zcHJpbmdzdGVlbi1yZWxhdGlvbnNoaXAtMzY4NTQwP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC448a0ef1> — Trump felt the sting of musical rejection this week, when the Rolling Stones asked him to cease and desist playing their music at his rallies (a taller order than it may sound; no single artist or group has had more tracks on the Trump rally playlist than the Stones.)

They may not love The Donald. But he still loves them, apparently.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9WYXVnaG5IaWxseWFyZC9zdGF0dXMvNzI4NzA1MjY3NDIxMDkzODg5P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC21b2949f>

Speaking of music: #FlashbackFriday time! Today's 2008 deja vu: Eight years ago, one of Barack Obama's speeches was featured in <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1qalh5cWN4LW1ZWSZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adE54ca8221> a pop single. Now, it's Hillary Clinton's turn.

Jennifer Lopez "sampled Clinton’s speech at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women from 1995 in her new single, 'Ain’t Your Mama,'" reported <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueWRhaWx5bmV3cy5jb20vZW50ZXJ0YWlubWVudC9nb3NzaXAvamVubmlmZXItbG9wZXotc2FtcGxlcy1oaWxsYXJ5LWNsaW50b24tc3BlZWNoLW5ldy1tdXNpYy12aWRlby1hcnRpY2xlLTEuMjYyNzM1Mz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC01049769> the Daily News. The hook: "I ain't gonna be cooking all day — I'm not your mama/I ain't gonna do your laundry — I'm not your mama."

(To be clear, that part is JLo's voice. Not Hillary Clinton's.)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj15a1RzLTBJcHNMMCZmZWF0dXJlPXlvdXR1LmJlJndwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adFb65356da>

Jennifer Lopez - Ain't Your Mama

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9BQkNMaXovc3RhdHVzLzcyODY5NDgwMjQyMjg3MDAxNz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe18830b4>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qZGVscmVhbC9zdGF0dXMvNzI4NzM1NzY0NDgyMTY2Nzg0P3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCaeaab4f7>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE3MjcwNCZzej0zMDB4MjUwJmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adHc3da2504>

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTE5MDkmc3o9MTE2eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adI9a623b8a>   <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL2xpLndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9jbGljaz9zPTk1OTE5JnN6PTY5eDE1JmxpPSU3QiU3QmFkaGFzaCU3RCU3RCZ3cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adJ2a5a88ad>

TRAIL MIX: Donald Trump's idea for cutting the national debt didn't cut it <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVibGF6ZS5jb20vc3Rvcmllcy8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L3RydW1wLXN0dW5zLWNyaXRpY3Mtd2l0aC1pZGVhLXRvLWN1dC1uYXRpb25hbC1kZWJ0LXN1Y2gtcmVtYXJrc2hhdmUtbm8tbW9kZXJuLXByZWNlZGVudC8_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC98b6b07b> with experts; a senior Trump adviser later clarified <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5yZXV0ZXJzLmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlL3VzLXVzYS1lbGVjdGlvbi10cnVtcC1kZWJ0LWlkVVNLQ04wWFgyOVE_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC15c042b3> that as president, he would not try to default on any U.S. debt.

—The top anti-Trump super PAC appears to be shifting its focus from stopping the presumptive nominee to supporting other GOP candidates. "We don’t have any plans to actively oppose Trump in the general election," said PAC founder Katie Packer <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL3RoZWhpbGwuY29tL2Jsb2dzL2JhbGxvdC1ib3gvcHJlc2lkZW50aWFsLXJhY2VzLzI3ODk5OS1hbnRpLXRydW1wLXBhYy10by13aW5kLWRvd24tYXR0YWNrcy1haGVhZC1vZi1nZW5lcmFsP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC0e21a8a4>. "We’re all good Republicans and want to see the party do well, but we continue to believe he’s terrible for the party, the country, and especially down-ballot Republicans, so we’re looking for opportunities to help them."

—The draft of D.C.'s constitution (in its effort to become the 51st state) would allow just about anyone <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2xvY2FsL2RjLXBvbGl0aWNzL2RyYWZ0LWNvbnN0aXR1dGlvbi1mb3ItNTFzdC1hbWVyaWNhbi1zdGF0ZS13b3VsZC1sZXQtYWxtb3N0LWFueW9uZS1iZS1nb3Zlcm5vci1vZi1kYy8yMDE2LzA1LzA2Lzk3Y2YwNDIyLTEzOTUtMTFlNi04MWI0LTU4MWE1YzRjNDJkZl9zdG9yeS5odG1sP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC75dc663e> to become governor in the state’s first election; it only "requires that the governor in D.C. be a qualified voter and a resident for a year. Unless changed, that might even mean that a foreigner with legal permanent residency in D.C. could run for governor. A bill now under consideration by city lawmakers would allow anyone with a green card to vote in the city. It might also mean that residents as young as 16 could run for governor. Another bill currently under review by the D.C. Council would lower the city’s voting age to 16. ..." (Three words: Governor Justin Bieber.)

—A judge has set the trial date <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cDovL21vbmV5LmNubi5jb20vMjAxNi8wNS8wNi9uZXdzL2RvbmFsZC10cnVtcC11bml2ZXJzaXR5LXRyaWFsLz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCa0847bf5> in the class action suit against Trump University; it won't begin until after Election Day. 

—President Obama said the 2016 campaign <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL25ld3MvcG9zdC1wb2xpdGljcy93cC8yMDE2LzA1LzA2L29iYW1hLW9uLXRydW1wLXRoaXMtaXMtbm90LWVudGVydGFpbm1lbnQtdGhpcy1pcy1ub3QtYS1yZWFsaXR5LXNob3cvP3dwbW09MSZ3cGlzcmM9bmxfdHJhaWw/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCf195138c> is "not entertainment" or "a reality show."

—Now that the campaign is over, Donald Trump has had some nice things to say about John Kasich. Ted Cruz's campaign manager does not.

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9qZWZmcm9lL3N0YXR1cy83Mjg2MzU4MTMwMTQwNDQ2NzM_d3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adC817a9cc2>

YOUR DAILY TRAIL PIT STOP: Here are dogs thinking deep thoughts, accompanied by the latest Tegan and Sara, for three minutes. Happy Friday! (h/t Nick Corasaniti <http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9OWVRuaWNrYz93cG1tPTEmd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3RyYWls/5728a16715dd9659088b55adCe24c1c49>)

<http://link.washingtonpost.com/click/6671307.10390/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj0xWEVrWHZVcDhWTSZzbnM9dHcmd3BtbT0xJndwaXNyYz1ubF90cmFpbA/5728a16715dd9659088b55adG64c71447>

Tegan and Sara - 100x [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

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