Subject: For Review: Sign ‘o The Times
From: "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>
To: "Freundlich, Christina" <[email-masked]>, "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>, "Walker, Eric" <[email-masked]>, "Walsh, Tom" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2016 09:21:02 -0700

SL: Sign ‘o The Times

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

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

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

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

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