Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethos…President Barack Obama and Raul Castro capped off their historic press conference in Cuba today with a half-hearted arm raise that could have only been more awkward if Obama had done that middle school thing when you hold your palm out for a high five and then run your hand through your hair instead.
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‘16 from 30,000
One week after Mitt Romney extolled the virtues of Ohio Gov. John Kasich and his “real track record,” the former presidential candidate is blasting a vote for Kasich as wasted opportunity. The difference? The Ohio primary, and Kasich’s chance to rob Trump of precious delegates, is in the history books, while tomorrow’s contest in Utah offers Ted Cruz a chance to deprive Trump again. Romney is now recording robocalls for Cruz in Utah, calling him “the only Republican candidate who can defeat Donald Trump.” Now, it’s hardly the first time that a politician has said nice things about someone only to treat them like a bad prom date, but the speed with which the turnaround happened is a little - er - jarring. It’s not that the move doesn’t make sense strategically for Romney, whose sole goal is to keep Trump from getting 1,237 delegates before July. But the contrasting messages is another data point that underscores what we’ve written about the anti-Trump movement before: Without a sole opposition candidate, the #NeverTrump crowd lacks a cohesive strategy, which could very well be the reason it ultimately falters.
POPPING ON NBC POLITICS
- Here’s the latest from Donald Trump’s big day in D.C.
- Trump managed to hit back at Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren during his busy day after she went on a tweet storm against him, one of us writes.
- Trump’s AIPAC speech brings to light the GOP frontrunner’s complex relationship with Israel, MSNBC’s Benjy Sarlin writes.
- Mitt Romney has recorded robocalls for Ted Cruz ahead of Tuesday’s nominating contests in Arizona and Utah, calling on “Republicans across the spectrum to unite behind Ted.”
- Mark Murray notes the political whiplash on display from Mitt Romney, who campaigned with John Kasich exactly one week ago.
- Hillary Clinton pledged unwavering support for Israel if elected president in her AIPAC speech Monday, MSNBC’s Alex Seitz-Wald reports.
- Bernie Sanders has won the primary contest surveying Democrats abroad.
- And from First Read this AM: The GOP’s big choice -- accept or reject Donald Trump.
FOR THE RECORD…
"You mean the Indian?"
Donald Trump knocking Sen. Elizabeth Warren after she blasted him on Twitter.
TOMORROW’S SKED
Hillary Clinton is in Washington, while Bernie Sanders campaigns in California.
Democrats and Republicans go to the polls in Arizona and Utah. Democrats also vote in Idaho, and Republicans cast ballots in American Samoa.
