Republican National Committee rules require a candidate to win a majority of delegates in eight contests, meaning John Kasich does not meet the threshold to advance to the July convention. But after a meeting in Hollywood, California, this week, the RNC noted that the rule is merely technicality and the Ohio governor still has the opportunity to count delegates. The Convention Rules Committee will finalize any changes to the rules a week before the convention. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is taking a softer tone toward Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump is having to explain his less-than-conservative responses to current issues that matter to voters.
Republican primaries
Donald Trump: Trump is facing backlash for his controversial views on North Carolina’s bathroom law and abortion. In an interview with the “Today” show on Thursday morning, Trump said people should exploit the bathroom they feel comfortable in and cited economic factors in his argument against the North Carolina law. Cruz’s campaign released an ad titled “Common sense” on Friday, in yet more resistance to Trump’s lukewarm response to the North Carolina bathroom law. Trump also suggested that the Republican Party change its abortion platform to make exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Conservative pro-life leaders condemned his suggestion, to argue you cannot be pro-life and at the same time support the abortion of a child conceived as a result of rape.
Meanwhile, Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is reportedly telling RNC officials that Trump’s bombastic campaign behavior is just a facade, arguing that he would be much more gentle as the Republican candidate. Senator Marco Rubio, a former Trump presidential candidate, indicated that he is prepared to support Trump should win. The current frontrunner is not expected to win the 1,237 delegates needed to become the Republican nominee before July, but he is nonetheless calling on his two opponents to withdraw because they have “no path” for the nomination. Even as Trump has accused the Republican Party of “rigging” the election, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus has at times defended the frontrunner. This week, for example, condemned “Never Trump” movement as anathema to Republican Party unity.
Ted Cruz: A modern Cruz ad dominated headlines Thursday, featuring Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin impersonators joining a team of think tanks in the “War Room” to discuss how to ensure Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee because they have no plan to beat Ted Cruz. The ad may not have been so far-fetched, considering a modern poll shows Clinton beating Trump in New Hampshire by 19 points. Another Cruz commercial compares Trump to Clinton, calling the businessman an elite who doesn’t understand the middle class. The Texas senator also he argued that Americans who vote for Trump might as well put a Hillary bumper sticker on their car.
Jan Kasich:Kasich has won just one contest out of 38, but he’s not listening to critics who want him to drop out of the race. But his campaign finance report from March, reveals that he spent more than he collected.
Democratic primaries
Hillary Clinton:After her screaming match with Bernie Sanders in the last Democratic debate, Clinton is starting to soften her tone toward the Vermont senator, hoping to unite Democrats and attract his supporters to her campaign. The former secretary of state is far ahead in Maryland polls ahead of Tuesday’s primary clash. First Lady Michelle Obama showered praise on Thursday during an event at the White House, calling the Democratic presidential candidate a “phenomenal woman.”
Bernie Sanders:Sanders has not responded to Clinton’s subdued rhetoric. He has continued to attack her at his rallies for her lucrative Wall Street speeches. If she was paid thousands of dollars for those speeches, they must have been “world-shaking,” he said. he joked at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. Clinton may have received praise from Mrs. Obama, but Sanders got some incentive from Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, who said he was pleased with the Vermont senator’s ambitious goals for the country. Still, Sanders’ nomination may seem a bit ambitious at this point. He needs to win the remaining 73 percent of delegates to become the Democratic nominee, Fox News reported Friday.
Basic schedule
Tuesday, April 26 – D/R primaries in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Connecticut and Delaware
