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| Trump campaign denies assault on conservative journalist – politics live | Trump campaign denies assault on conservative journalist – politics live |
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| 9.08pm GMT | |
| 21:08 | |
| Lee asks Rubio to 'get behind Ted Cruz' | |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | |
| Ted Cruz earned his first endorsement from a college in the US Senate on Thursday, as influential conservative Mike Lee of Utah backed the Texas senator’s presidential campaign, writes Guardian politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui: | |
| Addressing reporters in Miami ahead of tonight’s Republican debate, Lee said it was time to rally around Cruz as the only viable alternative to frontrunner Donald Trump. | |
| “Unity in the Republican Party is more important than ever before,” Lee said. “I call on all within the sound of my voice to join in my cause.” | |
| “It’s time my fellow Americans, and my fellow Republicans, to unite behind one candidate: That candidate is Ted Cruz.” | |
| Lee’s endorsement was a blow to Marco Rubio, the Florida senator whose campaign is on life support ahead of the state’s March 15 primary. Lee made separate appearances in South Carolina last month with both Rubio and Cruz and had planned, according to his aides, to stay neutral until one of his two friends dropped out of the race. | |
| But as Rubio faces an uphill battle against Trump in Florida, where a loss will all but spell a certain end to his bid for president, Lee sent a signal that it was time for him to fold. | |
| “If senator Rubio were asking me that, I would encourage him, and I do encourage him to get behind Ted Cruz,” Lee said when asked if it was time for Rubio to exit the race. | |
| “I’m sending the signal that it’s time to unite … We as Republicans need to unite behind one leader.” | |
| Lee is the first member of the US Senate to throw his support behind Cruz, who remains unpopular among his colleagues after building a brand as a rabble-rouser with little, if any, regard for rules and decorum. But with Cruz proving the only candidate to defeat Trump in a number of primary contests, a growing number of Republican lawmakers have indicated they might be coming around to the idea of rallying behind Cruz. | |
| South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, who so loathes Cruz that he recently joked about his murder, acknowledged last week it was essentially Cruz or bust if the party is to blunt Trump’s momentum. Cruz reached out to Graham by telephone shortly after he made the comments, a sign that he is open to assuming the mantle of party alternative. | |
| Endorsements have nonetheless proved largely inconsequential in the Republican race thus far. Rubio rolled out a series of high-profile backers, from conservative stars within the Senate to sitting governors with high approval ratings, to little effect in the past two months. For Cruz, there is the added paradox that he has built his image as taking on the so-called “Washington cartel,” a message that could be undermined if he embraces its support. | |
| Lee is, however, an exception who remains popular among the tea party and libertarian factions of the Republican Party. His endorsement could help to boost Cruz ahead of Utah’s March 22 primary, where the Texas senator is trailing Rubio by two points according to an average of publicly available polling. Rubio, of course, may no longer be in the race by the time the contest rolls around. | |
| 8.41pm GMT | |
| 20:41 | |
| Breitbart News Network CEO and president Larry Solov has released a statement in response to the Donald Trump campaign’s attacks on Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields, again calling on the campaign to apologize after Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager, allegedly assaulted Fields at a press conference on Tuesday. | |
| “The Washington Post just published a very detailed, first-hand account from their senior reporter Ben Terris who is familiar with the campaign, the personalities involved, and was an eyewitness to the incident,” Solov writes. “We are disappointed in the campaign’s response, in particular their effort to demean Michelle’s previous reporting. Michelle Fields is an intrepid reporter who has covered tough and dangerous stories. We stand behind her reporting, her techniques, and call again on Corey Lewandowski to apologize.” | |
| 8.11pm GMT | 8.11pm GMT |
| 20:11 | 20:11 |
| Trump campaign manager: Reporter is "an attention seeker" | Trump campaign manager: Reporter is "an attention seeker" |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, is waging a Twitter war on Michelle Fields, a reporter for Breitbart News who claims he manhandled her following a press conference on Tuesday, is accusing the reporter of doing it for attention. | Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, is waging a Twitter war on Michelle Fields, a reporter for Breitbart News who claims he manhandled her following a press conference on Tuesday, is accusing the reporter of doing it for attention. |
| Michelle Fields is an attention seeker who once claimed Allen West groped her but later went silent. https://t.co/J86Ej42eYx | Michelle Fields is an attention seeker who once claimed Allen West groped her but later went silent. https://t.co/J86Ej42eYx |
| The tweet links to a blog post written by controversial Internet personality Chuck Johnson in which he reported unconfirmed rumors that former congressman Allen West assaulted her. Johnson has been banned from Twitter for repeated attempts to incite violence against other users. | |
| Fields was reporting from a press conference at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida, on Tuesday night, when she approached the candidate to ask him about his stance on affirmative action, according to a piece she wrote for the conservative outlet titled “Michelle Fields: In Her Own Words.” | Fields was reporting from a press conference at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida, on Tuesday night, when she approached the candidate to ask him about his stance on affirmative action, according to a piece she wrote for the conservative outlet titled “Michelle Fields: In Her Own Words.” |
| “Trump acknowledged the question, but before he could answer I was jolted backwards. Someone had grabbed me tightly by the arm and yanked me down,” Fields wrote. “I almost fell to the ground, but was able to maintain my balance. Nonetheless, I was shaken.” | “Trump acknowledged the question, but before he could answer I was jolted backwards. Someone had grabbed me tightly by the arm and yanked me down,” Fields wrote. “I almost fell to the ground, but was able to maintain my balance. Nonetheless, I was shaken.” |
| Fields says that she didn’t know who had pulled her down until another reporter “remarked that it was Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, who aggressively tried to pull me to the ground.” Lewandowski was seen exiting the space with Trump moments later. | Fields says that she didn’t know who had pulled her down until another reporter “remarked that it was Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, who aggressively tried to pull me to the ground.” Lewandowski was seen exiting the space with Trump moments later. |
| “No apology. No explanation for why he did this,” Fields wrote. | “No apology. No explanation for why he did this,” Fields wrote. |
| The Trump campaign has denied that anything matching Fields’ description occurred. | The Trump campaign has denied that anything matching Fields’ description occurred. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.39pm GMT | |
| 8.05pm GMT | 8.05pm GMT |
| 20:05 | 20:05 |
| Jamiles Lartey | Jamiles Lartey |
| The Senate judiciary committee chairman on Thursday reaffirmed his pledge not to consider an Obama nomination for the open seat on the supreme court, adding calls for a hearing were “a charade” and “absurd”. | The Senate judiciary committee chairman on Thursday reaffirmed his pledge not to consider an Obama nomination for the open seat on the supreme court, adding calls for a hearing were “a charade” and “absurd”. |
| “In case there is any confusion over whether this obvious political ploy would work, let me be crystal clear: it won’t,” Chuck Grassley said during a committee business meeting. “We’re not going to drop any nominee into that election-year cauldron.” | “In case there is any confusion over whether this obvious political ploy would work, let me be crystal clear: it won’t,” Chuck Grassley said during a committee business meeting. “We’re not going to drop any nominee into that election-year cauldron.” |
| “He is trying to protect this person from the hot boiling cauldron of thiscommittee,” responded Senator Dick Durban of Illinois, adding: “Well, who is turning up the heat?” | “He is trying to protect this person from the hot boiling cauldron of thiscommittee,” responded Senator Dick Durban of Illinois, adding: “Well, who is turning up the heat?” |
| Related: Senate chair reaffirms pledge to block an Obama nominee to the supreme court | Related: Senate chair reaffirms pledge to block an Obama nominee to the supreme court |
| 7.46pm GMT | 7.46pm GMT |
| 19:46 | 19:46 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has responded to Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields’ allegation that he manhandled her at a campaign event on Tuesday, accusing Fields of being a serial fabulist. | Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has responded to Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields’ allegation that he manhandled her at a campaign event on Tuesday, accusing Fields of being a serial fabulist. |
| Daily Caller reporter assaulted by NYPD during ‘Occupy’ protests -- professional reporting or attention seeking? https://t.co/FqOQQMvNcy | Daily Caller reporter assaulted by NYPD during ‘Occupy’ protests -- professional reporting or attention seeking? https://t.co/FqOQQMvNcy |
| Lewandowski’s tweet links to a 2011 story about Fields and another reporter being beaten by New York Police Department officers at an Occupy Wall Street protest. In a statement released by Hope Hicks, Trump’s communications director, the Trump campaign declared that although “we leave to others whether this is part of a larger pattern of exaggerating incidents ... on multiple occasions she has become part of the news story as opposed to reporting it. Recall she also claimed to have been beaten by a New York City Police officer with a baton.” | Lewandowski’s tweet links to a 2011 story about Fields and another reporter being beaten by New York Police Department officers at an Occupy Wall Street protest. In a statement released by Hope Hicks, Trump’s communications director, the Trump campaign declared that although “we leave to others whether this is part of a larger pattern of exaggerating incidents ... on multiple occasions she has become part of the news story as opposed to reporting it. Recall she also claimed to have been beaten by a New York City Police officer with a baton.” |
| Fields’ boyfriend, Daily Caller senior editor Jamie Weinstein, tweeted a photograph of Fields being hit with a baton taken at the protest in question in response to Hicks’ statement. | Fields’ boyfriend, Daily Caller senior editor Jamie Weinstein, tweeted a photograph of Fields being hit with a baton taken at the protest in question in response to Hicks’ statement. |
| Michelle getting pushed down by police during the Occupy Wall Street protests. Trump campaign serial liars pic.twitter.com/oNptBzNkC9 | Michelle getting pushed down by police during the Occupy Wall Street protests. Trump campaign serial liars pic.twitter.com/oNptBzNkC9 |
| 7.08pm GMT | 7.08pm GMT |
| 19:08 | 19:08 |
| Trump campaign: Assault allegation against campaign manager "is entirely false" | Trump campaign: Assault allegation against campaign manager "is entirely false" |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Donald Trump’s campaign communications manager, Hope Hicks, has released a statement following an accusation by a writer at Breitbart News she was forcibly “yanked” away from the candidate by Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. | Donald Trump’s campaign communications manager, Hope Hicks, has released a statement following an accusation by a writer at Breitbart News she was forcibly “yanked” away from the candidate by Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. |
| “The accusation, which has only been made in the media and never addressed directly with the campaign, is entirely false,” Hicks said in a statement released to the Guardian. “As one of dozens of individuals present as Mr. Trump exited the press conference I did not witness any encounter. In addition to our staff, which had no knowledge of said situation, not a single camera or reporter of more than 100 in attendance captured the alleged incident. This individual has never met Corey, nor had the only reporter that supposedly identified him.” | “The accusation, which has only been made in the media and never addressed directly with the campaign, is entirely false,” Hicks said in a statement released to the Guardian. “As one of dozens of individuals present as Mr. Trump exited the press conference I did not witness any encounter. In addition to our staff, which had no knowledge of said situation, not a single camera or reporter of more than 100 in attendance captured the alleged incident. This individual has never met Corey, nor had the only reporter that supposedly identified him.” |
| “There are often large crowds aggressively seeking access to Mr. Trump and our staff would never do anything to harm another individual, while at the same time understanding that Mr. Trump and his personal space should never be invaded.” | “There are often large crowds aggressively seeking access to Mr. Trump and our staff would never do anything to harm another individual, while at the same time understanding that Mr. Trump and his personal space should never be invaded.” |
| “This person claims she does not want to be part of the news, and only report it, however if that was the case, any concerns, however unfounded they may be, should have been voiced directly first and not via Twitter, especially since no other outlet or reporter witnessed or questioned anything that transpired that evening. We leave to others whether this is part of a larger pattern of exaggerating incidents, but on multiple occasions she has become part of the news story as opposed to reporting it. Recall she also claimed to have been beaten by a New York City Police officer with a baton. | “This person claims she does not want to be part of the news, and only report it, however if that was the case, any concerns, however unfounded they may be, should have been voiced directly first and not via Twitter, especially since no other outlet or reporter witnessed or questioned anything that transpired that evening. We leave to others whether this is part of a larger pattern of exaggerating incidents, but on multiple occasions she has become part of the news story as opposed to reporting it. Recall she also claimed to have been beaten by a New York City Police officer with a baton. |
| In response, Michelle Fields, the reporter in question, tweeted this photo of bruises on her arm: | In response, Michelle Fields, the reporter in question, tweeted this photo of bruises on her arm: |
| I guess these just magically appeared on me @CLewandowski_ @realDonaldTrump. So weird. pic.twitter.com/oD8c4D7tw3 | I guess these just magically appeared on me @CLewandowski_ @realDonaldTrump. So weird. pic.twitter.com/oD8c4D7tw3 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.31pm GMT | at 7.31pm GMT |
| 6.46pm GMT | 6.46pm GMT |
| 18:46 | 18:46 |
| Video: Trump supporter sucker-punches black protestor | Video: Trump supporter sucker-punches black protestor |
| 6.37pm GMT | 6.37pm GMT |
| 18:37 | 18:37 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| The second poll today shows Republican frontrunner Donald Trump leading Florida senator Marco Rubio by single digits in the beleaguered candidate’s home state. | The second poll today shows Republican frontrunner Donald Trump leading Florida senator Marco Rubio by single digits in the beleaguered candidate’s home state. |
| Trump holds a 9-point lead over Rubio in Florida, according to the latest poll from Suffolk University, with support of 36% of likely Republican voters to Rubio’s 27%. Texas senator Ted Cruz is in third place with 19% of the vote, with Ohio governor John Kasich at a mere 10%. The results were released only hours after a Washington Post/Univision poll of likely Floridian Republican voters found that found Trump leads Rubio by 7 points in the Sunshine State. | Trump holds a 9-point lead over Rubio in Florida, according to the latest poll from Suffolk University, with support of 36% of likely Republican voters to Rubio’s 27%. Texas senator Ted Cruz is in third place with 19% of the vote, with Ohio governor John Kasich at a mere 10%. The results were released only hours after a Washington Post/Univision poll of likely Floridian Republican voters found that found Trump leads Rubio by 7 points in the Sunshine State. |
| Other polls have found the real estate tycoon with a double-digit lead in Florida, boosted by surveys showing that one-fourth of Florida’s early voters - that is, those who have already cast their ballots - are first-time or long-dormant voters, a key Trump demographic. | Other polls have found the real estate tycoon with a double-digit lead in Florida, boosted by surveys showing that one-fourth of Florida’s early voters - that is, those who have already cast their ballots - are first-time or long-dormant voters, a key Trump demographic. |
| Rubio has pinned the fate of his campaign on winning his home state, which has a winner-take-all primary scheduled on Tuesday. Although the polling gap may be narrowing, Trump’s lead could conceivably shrink to a single vote and he would still take home all 99 of Florida’s delegates. Along with his lead in Ohio, another winner-take-all state with a primary scheduled for Tuesday, Trump has declared that if he wins the next two major states, he’ll have sewn up the nomination. | Rubio has pinned the fate of his campaign on winning his home state, which has a winner-take-all primary scheduled on Tuesday. Although the polling gap may be narrowing, Trump’s lead could conceivably shrink to a single vote and he would still take home all 99 of Florida’s delegates. Along with his lead in Ohio, another winner-take-all state with a primary scheduled for Tuesday, Trump has declared that if he wins the next two major states, he’ll have sewn up the nomination. |
| 5.35pm GMT | 5.35pm GMT |
| 17:35 | 17:35 |
| Report: Ted Cruz to get his first US senate endorsement | Report: Ted Cruz to get his first US senate endorsement |
| Texas senator Ted Cruz is about to receive his first endorsement from a colleague in the US senate, according to Buzzfeed. | Texas senator Ted Cruz is about to receive his first endorsement from a colleague in the US senate, according to Buzzfeed. |
| Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, will reportedly endorse Cruz’s candidacy for president on Thursday afternoon. Lee, who like Cruz is a former constitutional lawyer who arose to prominence on the back of the Tea Party movement, was Cruz’sbiggest - and only - ally in his bid to defund the Affordable Care Act in 2013. It was that episode that alienated Cruz from many of his Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill, a possible explanation for the tardiness of a single endorsement from the US senate for the candidate. | Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, will reportedly endorse Cruz’s candidacy for president on Thursday afternoon. Lee, who like Cruz is a former constitutional lawyer who arose to prominence on the back of the Tea Party movement, was Cruz’sbiggest - and only - ally in his bid to defund the Affordable Care Act in 2013. It was that episode that alienated Cruz from many of his Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill, a possible explanation for the tardiness of a single endorsement from the US senate for the candidate. |
| 5.27pm GMT | 5.27pm GMT |
| 17:27 | 17:27 |
| Marilynne Robinson | Marilynne Robinson |
| The public is exasperated by the political system to the point that it is enjoying a kind of catharsis in the form of Donald Trump, writes Marilynn Robinson: | The public is exasperated by the political system to the point that it is enjoying a kind of catharsis in the form of Donald Trump, writes Marilynn Robinson: |
| Donald Trump is not really exceptional among current Republican presidential candidates. He is the one with the brightest plumage, of course, and the one who has had long experience at cultivating celebrity. If Trump seems strangely incapable of consistency except in the matter of walling out and deporting immigrants, somber Ted Cruz is lurking nearby to alarm us with his ideological purity. If Trump is his own invention, there is Rubio, the polished creature of hired advisors and their moment-to-moment calculations. | Donald Trump is not really exceptional among current Republican presidential candidates. He is the one with the brightest plumage, of course, and the one who has had long experience at cultivating celebrity. If Trump seems strangely incapable of consistency except in the matter of walling out and deporting immigrants, somber Ted Cruz is lurking nearby to alarm us with his ideological purity. If Trump is his own invention, there is Rubio, the polished creature of hired advisors and their moment-to-moment calculations. |
| The only satisfaction to be found in a Trump win lies in the fact that the others have lost, and lost badly. On the other hand, Trump’s bluster distracts attention from the others’ stated positions, so if one of his competitors manages finally to make the case, to the public or the party, that he is least objectionable, the claim might well be groundless. | The only satisfaction to be found in a Trump win lies in the fact that the others have lost, and lost badly. On the other hand, Trump’s bluster distracts attention from the others’ stated positions, so if one of his competitors manages finally to make the case, to the public or the party, that he is least objectionable, the claim might well be groundless. |
| Trump and the others are the product of the souring of the party system. Someone should point out, in these days when the constitution is so constantly and pietistically invoked, that political parties are not mentioned in the constitution, and that the prescient founders warned emphatically against them for reasons that should be clear to us now. | Trump and the others are the product of the souring of the party system. Someone should point out, in these days when the constitution is so constantly and pietistically invoked, that political parties are not mentioned in the constitution, and that the prescient founders warned emphatically against them for reasons that should be clear to us now. |
| Related: Trump: the great orange-haired Unintended Consequence | Marilynne Robinson | Related: Trump: the great orange-haired Unintended Consequence | Marilynne Robinson |