Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing - April 27, 2016
From Ballotpedia
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Wednesday's Leading Stories
- On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton won four Democratic presidential primaries: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Bernie Sanders won the Rhode Island Democratic primary. Clinton picked up 202 delegates, and Bernie Sanders picked up 133. (Ballotpedia)
- During a victory speech in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, Clinton said to supporters, "With your help, we are going to come back to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention with the most votes and the most pledged delegates. And we will unify our party to win this election and build an America where we can all rise together, an America where we lift each other up instead of tearing each other down." During her speech, she also mentioned Donald Trump’s recent comments about her “playing the woman card.” Clinton said, "The other day, Mr. Trump accused me, of playing the, quote, woman card. Well, if fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in." (CNN)
- On Tuesday, Donald Trump won all five Republican presidential primaries. According to Ballotpedia senior writer James Barnes, “His sweep of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island further tightened his grip on the GOP presidential nomination.” John Kasich finished second in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, and Rhode Island. Ted Cruz finished second in Pennsylvania. Trump picked up 105 delegates, Kasich picked up five, and Cruz picked up one. (Ballotpedia)
- In his victory speech on Tuesday night, Trump said, “When the boxer knocks out the other boxer, you don’t have to wait around for a decision. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over…. This to me was our biggest night. I consider myself the presumptive nominee." He also criticized Hillary Clinton, saying, “Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she would get 5 percent of the vote.” (The New York Times, CNN)
Democrats
Hillary Clinton
- On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed Hillary Clinton. The editorial board wrote, “Sanders has already pushed Clinton leftward - for good (toward a higher minimum wage) and ill (against trade). She could capture more of her rival's enviable energy by dropping her Clintonian guardedness, however well-earned. The same impulse that led her to hide official emails on a home server, prompting a federal investigation, seems to be behind her indefensible refusal to release transcripts of her high-priced speeches to executives. Such self-inflicted controversies dampen the enthusiasm that should attach to a candidate who is not only thoroughly qualified for the presidency but also historically unprecedented by the long line of men who have occupied it. To paraphrase a Republican, Sanders may have ‘the best words’ in this contest, but HILLARY CLINTON is better prepared to lead her country.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- On Tuesday, Clinton visited manufacturing plants in Indiana and called for "a renaissance in manufacturing." She said, "Steel is crucial to our manufactuting [sic] base. I will not let this vital industry disappear." According to NBC-Chicago, “Clinton faulted the Republican-controlled Indiana legislature for passing a right-to-work law and repealing the common construction wage, calling the move a ‘total violation of economics 101.’” (NBC Chicago)
- On Tuesday, Priorities USA, a super-PAC supporting Clinton, released the online ad, “Donald Trump: The Art of the Sell.” The ad attacks Trump’s business record by specifically criticizing Trump University and Trump Steaks. (The Hill)
- The State Department released an email to Judicial Watch, “the group that successfully sued in federal court for Clinton’s emails,” that Hillary Clinton sent on September 29, 2012. The email, which “was sent to Clinton from then-Deputy Chief of Staff Jake Sullivan and concerns talking points for a call with senators about the Sept. 11, 2012 Benghazi attack,” showed that Clinton was using a personal email account for State Department business. According to Fox News, “A State Department official called the delay an ‘administrative error’ and added that they did not receive the email in question until July 2015 – after the Clinton email address was known.” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement, “Now we know the Obama administration consciously refused to give up key information about Hillary Clinton’s email in 2014. It covered up this email both from the court and Judicial Watch. This cover-up provided Hillary Clinton enough time to hide potentially thousands of government records.” (Fox News)
Bernie Sanders
- On Tuesday night, Bernie Sanders told his supporters in West Virginia that he will stay in the race, despite falling far behind Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination. After the rally, Sanders said “he would go to the Democratic convention in July ‘with as many delegates as possible to fight for a progressive party platform’ — a remark that some Democrats interpreted as his first acknowledgment that he would not attend the convention as the nominee,” according to The New York Times. Sanders will reassess his campaign’s future today. Sanders' senior strategist Tad Devine said, “If we are sitting here and there’s no sort of mathematical way to do it [to win the nomination], we will be up front about that.” (The New York Times)
- During an interview on CNN on Tuesday, Wolf Blitzer asked Jane Sanders when she planned to release her husband’s past tax returns. Sanders said, "You know, what's interesting is we released the 2014 [tax return]. Hillary Clinton hasn't released a transcript yet." According to CNN, Sanders “confirmed that she'll provide the returns when Clinton publishes her Wall Street transcripts.” Sanders added, "Honestly, Wolf, these are not the issues that are of concern to the American people. I implore you as a leading, wonderful host of a major show, please talk about the issues that concern the American people instead of delegate math and who can win or who can lose." (Politico)
Republicans
Ted Cruz
- Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) voted for Ted Cruz in Tuesday’s primary election. Toomey said Cruz is “a solid conservative. We don't agree on everything, but having served with him in the Senate, I know Ted pretty well and I think he's got a real, real viable shot of beating Hillary Clinton in the fall." (The Morning Call)
- On Tuesday, CNN reported that “Carly Fiorina and a handful of other possible vice presidents for Ted Cruz are submitting tax returns” as part of the vetting process. When asked whether Cruz was considering John Kasich as his vice president, Cruz said, "I think that is very, very premature. I respect John Kasich, he is a good and capable man, but I think at this point we've made a decision about allocation of resources." (CNN)
- On Tuesday night, Cruz held a campaign rally “in the Knightstown, Ind., gymnasium where the high school basketball movie ‘Hoosiers’” was filmed, according to The New York Times. Cruz told supporters, “Tonight this campaign moves back to more favorable terrain.” (The New York Times)
John Kasich
- On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed John Kasich. The editorial board wrote, “[M]any voters want to send a message this year: The status quo isn't working. But getting things back on track starts with some basics - working well with others, doing your homework, standing up to bullies, and treating others as you expect to be treated - and requires a candidate with the best chance of running a competitive campaign in the fall. For Republicans on Tuesday, that candidate is JOHN KASICH.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- On Tuesday, Kasich discussed his alliance with Ted Cruz. Kasich said, "I don't tell people how to vote. … I’m not out to stop Donald Trump, I’m out to stop Hillary Clinton.” (Los Angeles Times)
Donald Trump
- Donald Trump will deliver a foreign policy speech today in an attempt to present himself as “a more sober and serious presidential candidate than he's perceived by many Americans and foreign allies,” according to Bloomberg News. In a statement, Trump said, “I am honored to be invited to speak at an organization founded by former President Richard Nixon, and look forward to sharing my views on the many serious foreign policy issues facing our country and our allies around the world. Trade, immigration and security policies are critical concerns of all Americans, and we must develop a clear, consistent long-term foreign policy for making America safe and prosperous.” (Bloomberg)
- On Tuesday, Trump tweeted that Bernie Sanders should run as an independent candidate because of how unfairly the Democratic Party has treated him. Trump’s tweet said, "Bernie Sanders has been treated terribly by the Democrats — both with delegates & otherwise. He should show them, and run as an Independent!" (Politico)
- Jane Sanders responded to Trump’s suggestion, saying, "I think we've been very clear right from the beginning that we will not play the role of spoiler. Bernie will not be running as an independent." (The Hill)
- On Tuesday, a New York court ruled that a “$40 million civil suit alleging fraud against Trump University” will go to trial, despite a request from New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to deliver a ruling based on existing evidence. A trial date was not set, but it will likely occur in the fall. Trump’s attorney Alan Garten said, "We are extremely pleased that the Supreme Court has yet again rejected the Attorney General's attempt to avoid a trial." (CNN)
Third Party Candidates
Jill Stein (Green Party)
- Last week, Jill Stein wrote a letter to Bernie Sanders asking him to work with her to fight the “political machine.” She praised him for his “historic,” “inspired” campaign and wrote, “At a time when the American electorate is rejecting politics as usual in vast numbers, I invite you to join me in pushing the boundaries of that system to a place where revolution can truly take root. … As the neoliberal Democratic machine mobilizes to quash revolution in its ranks, I urge you to consider opening a window of historic possibility outside the Democratic Party. I would love to explore with you collaborative ways to advance that effort and ensure the revolution for people, planet and peace will prevail. Please let me know if you're interested in talking.” (Salon, Jill2016.com)
See also
- Presidential election, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
- Important dates in the 2016 presidential race
- Polls and Straw polls
- 2016 presidential candidate ratings and scorecards
