This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/mar/17/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-general-election-campaign-live
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Campaign live: Lindsey Graham backs Ted Cruz for Republican nomination | Campaign live: Lindsey Graham backs Ted Cruz for Republican nomination |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.45pm GMT | |
| 22:45 | |
| Shaun Walker | |
| A few months ago, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin seemed on course to becoming best buddies. | |
| Asked in December for his view of the Republican presidential frontrunner, the Russian president described him as “a colourful and talented person without any doubt” and “the absolute leader of the presidential race”. Trump welcomed the praise, saying: “It is always a great honour to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond.” | |
| Any cosiness has been brought to an abrupt halt, however, after Trump lumped Putin in with Islamic State in a bizarre campaign ad featuring Hillary Clinton barking like a dog. | |
| The video, posted on Trump’s Instagram account, attempts to cast doubt over the Democratic party frontrunner’s ability to deal with Putin and America’s opponents in general, showing the Russian leader throwing an opponent in a judo bout, and an Islamist militant gesturing at the camera with a gun. | |
| “When it comes to facing our toughest opponents, the Democrats have the perfect answer,” the video says, before cutting to footage of Clinton imitating a dog at a recent campaign event. | |
| The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had seen the clip but did not know if Putin had. “Our attitude is negative,” he said. | |
| Related: Trump campaign ad clips wings of fledgling Putin friendship | |
| 10.22pm GMT | 10.22pm GMT |
| 22:22 | 22:22 |
| Billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump got flack this week for saying that he primarily consults with himself on foreign policy issues, “because I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things.” | Billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump got flack this week for saying that he primarily consults with himself on foreign policy issues, “because I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things.” |
| Speaking of just who presidential candidates are consulting on international relations, fellow candidate Ted Cruz has chosen an interesting addition to his shadow cabinet of advisers: Frank Gaffney, the founder of think tank Center for Security Policy dubbed “one of America’s most notorious Islamophobes” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. | Speaking of just who presidential candidates are consulting on international relations, fellow candidate Ted Cruz has chosen an interesting addition to his shadow cabinet of advisers: Frank Gaffney, the founder of think tank Center for Security Policy dubbed “one of America’s most notorious Islamophobes” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. |
| Gaffney, who has speculated that Barack Obama is a secret Muslim and that Saddam Hussein was the mastermind of the Oklahoma City bombing, was the orchestrator of the poll that Trump has used to justify his proposed ban on foreign Muslims from entering the United States. That poll, which purported to show that “25% of [American Muslims] polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad” and that 51% of those polled “agreed that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah,” has been widely lambasted as methodologically incorrect. | Gaffney, who has speculated that Barack Obama is a secret Muslim and that Saddam Hussein was the mastermind of the Oklahoma City bombing, was the orchestrator of the poll that Trump has used to justify his proposed ban on foreign Muslims from entering the United States. That poll, which purported to show that “25% of [American Muslims] polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad” and that 51% of those polled “agreed that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah,” has been widely lambasted as methodologically incorrect. |
| Despite the popularity of his work with the Trump campaign, Gaffney has taken on the role of Cruz’s top adviser on national security and foreign policy. | Despite the popularity of his work with the Trump campaign, Gaffney has taken on the role of Cruz’s top adviser on national security and foreign policy. |
| Updated | |
| at 10.34pm GMT | |
| 10.16pm GMT | 10.16pm GMT |
| 22:16 | 22:16 |
| AP calls Missouri primary for Hillary Clinton | AP calls Missouri primary for Hillary Clinton |
| Well, that took ’em long enough. | Well, that took ’em long enough. |
| BREAKING: Hillary Clinton wins Missouri Democratic primary. @AP race call at 6:06 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall. | BREAKING: Hillary Clinton wins Missouri Democratic primary. @AP race call at 6:06 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall. |
| 9.54pm GMT | 9.54pm GMT |
| 21:54 | 21:54 |
| Tom Phillips | Tom Phillips |
| When there is upheaval within China’s own borders – riots, protests, vicious political power struggles – hardly a sniff of it will be found in the pages of the country’s heavily-controlled press. | When there is upheaval within China’s own borders – riots, protests, vicious political power struggles – hardly a sniff of it will be found in the pages of the country’s heavily-controlled press. |
| When it happens elsewhere – and particularly when it underscores the perils and pitfalls of democracy – it becomes front-page news. | When it happens elsewhere – and particularly when it underscores the perils and pitfalls of democracy – it becomes front-page news. |
| Such is the case of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, who, for China’s authoritarian rulers, has become the latest example of how allowing the masses a say in choosing their leaders is a bad idea. | Such is the case of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, who, for China’s authoritarian rulers, has become the latest example of how allowing the masses a say in choosing their leaders is a bad idea. |
| “The rise of a racist in the US political area worries the whole world,” the party-controlled Global Times crowed this week ahead of of Trump’s victory in the latest round of primaries. “He has even been called another Benito Mussolini or Adolf Hitler by some western media.” | “The rise of a racist in the US political area worries the whole world,” the party-controlled Global Times crowed this week ahead of of Trump’s victory in the latest round of primaries. “He has even been called another Benito Mussolini or Adolf Hitler by some western media.” |
| It added, darkly: “Mussolini and Hitler came to power through elections, a heavy lesson for western democracy.” | It added, darkly: “Mussolini and Hitler came to power through elections, a heavy lesson for western democracy.” |
| Related: Democracy is a joke, says China – just look at Donald Trump | Related: Democracy is a joke, says China – just look at Donald Trump |
| 9.35pm GMT | 9.35pm GMT |
| 21:35 | 21:35 |
| John Kasich goes on Twitter rampage against Donald Trump's "riot" threat | John Kasich goes on Twitter rampage against Donald Trump's "riot" threat |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Donald Trump’s speculation that a contested/brokered/open convention in Cleveland would lead to “riots” in the streets of Cleveland has lead to condemnation of the billionaire frontrunner’s apparent threat - with the sharpest condemnation coming from fellow Republican candidate John Kasich. | Donald Trump’s speculation that a contested/brokered/open convention in Cleveland would lead to “riots” in the streets of Cleveland has lead to condemnation of the billionaire frontrunner’s apparent threat - with the sharpest condemnation coming from fellow Republican candidate John Kasich. |
| In a series of tweets, the Ohio governor excoriated the real estate tycoon for his “implicit acceptance of violence” this afternoon. | In a series of tweets, the Ohio governor excoriated the real estate tycoon for his “implicit acceptance of violence” this afternoon. |
| Donald Trump said there could be riots if he's "denied" the GOP nom in a contested convention. That's more unacceptable language.(1/4) -John | Donald Trump said there could be riots if he's "denied" the GOP nom in a contested convention. That's more unacceptable language.(1/4) -John |
| This implicit acceptance of violence is the kind of rhetoric that's pulling people apart. (2/4) -John | This implicit acceptance of violence is the kind of rhetoric that's pulling people apart. (2/4) -John |
| A true leader urges peaceful debate over violence. Leadership requires responsibility (3/4) -John | A true leader urges peaceful debate over violence. Leadership requires responsibility (3/4) -John |
| I have faith the American people want civilized debate over violence. It's what's kept our nation the strongest in the world. (4/4) -John | I have faith the American people want civilized debate over violence. It's what's kept our nation the strongest in the world. (4/4) -John |
| Criticism of the billionaire’s apparent acceptance - even endorsement - of violence at his campaign rallies has increased after a series of high-profile incidents, including an assault on a protestor, the manhandling of a female reporter by Trump’s campaign manager and the cancellation of a rally in Chicago that threatened to turn into a full-bore riot. | Criticism of the billionaire’s apparent acceptance - even endorsement - of violence at his campaign rallies has increased after a series of high-profile incidents, including an assault on a protestor, the manhandling of a female reporter by Trump’s campaign manager and the cancellation of a rally in Chicago that threatened to turn into a full-bore riot. |
| 9.19pm GMT | 9.19pm GMT |
| 21:19 | 21:19 |
| We’ll be watching and liveblogging... | We’ll be watching and liveblogging... |
| Yes! Confirmed! @BernieSanders joins me live for his first interview since his tough night in Tuesday's contests. 9PM ET, MSNBC. | Yes! Confirmed! @BernieSanders joins me live for his first interview since his tough night in Tuesday's contests. 9PM ET, MSNBC. |
| 9.17pm GMT | 9.17pm GMT |
| 21:17 | 21:17 |
| Jill Abramson | Jill Abramson |
| The bare knuckle fight over Merrick Garland could sway this election, writes Jill Abramson. Garland’s temperate record magnifies the extremism of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. - and voters will be taking careful note of how the Republicans behave. | The bare knuckle fight over Merrick Garland could sway this election, writes Jill Abramson. Garland’s temperate record magnifies the extremism of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. - and voters will be taking careful note of how the Republicans behave. |
| Garland’s temperate record and demeanor also magnify the extremism of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the leaders for the GOP presidential nomination who could make their own court nominees if Garland is not confirmed by the election. That could further scare off moderate Republicans. | Garland’s temperate record and demeanor also magnify the extremism of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the leaders for the GOP presidential nomination who could make their own court nominees if Garland is not confirmed by the election. That could further scare off moderate Republicans. |
| No one has any idea, really, about Trump’s judicial philosophy. His statements about the Court have gyrated, praising Thomas, but calling Chief Justice John Roberts, another conservative, a “disgrace” for voting to uphold President Obama’s health care law. Meanwhile, he has said that his sister, a federal appeals court judge in New Jersey, would be a “phenomenal” pick. But she scares some conservatives because of a pro-abortion ruling. Predicting the candidates Trump might choose for the Court is harder than figuring out who will be left standing on The Apprentice. | No one has any idea, really, about Trump’s judicial philosophy. His statements about the Court have gyrated, praising Thomas, but calling Chief Justice John Roberts, another conservative, a “disgrace” for voting to uphold President Obama’s health care law. Meanwhile, he has said that his sister, a federal appeals court judge in New Jersey, would be a “phenomenal” pick. But she scares some conservatives because of a pro-abortion ruling. Predicting the candidates Trump might choose for the Court is harder than figuring out who will be left standing on The Apprentice. |
| Cruz will seek someone more Scalia than Scalia. The Texan is a strict “originalist” who believes that only the literal words of the Constitution should guide the court’s decisions. His skepticism of federal power has been compared to John Calhoun, the states rights absolutist whose pro-slavery views helped spark the Civil War. Cruz, who, like Garland, graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, prides himself on being a constitutional scholar and was heavily involved in George W Bush’s legal strategy to win the presidency in the contested election of 2000. His record as Texas’s solicitor general and his legal views as a senator put him way out on the right fringe, where he could scare voters more than Trump. | Cruz will seek someone more Scalia than Scalia. The Texan is a strict “originalist” who believes that only the literal words of the Constitution should guide the court’s decisions. His skepticism of federal power has been compared to John Calhoun, the states rights absolutist whose pro-slavery views helped spark the Civil War. Cruz, who, like Garland, graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, prides himself on being a constitutional scholar and was heavily involved in George W Bush’s legal strategy to win the presidency in the contested election of 2000. His record as Texas’s solicitor general and his legal views as a senator put him way out on the right fringe, where he could scare voters more than Trump. |
| Related: The bare knuckle fight over Merrick Garland could sway this election | Jill Abramson | Related: The bare knuckle fight over Merrick Garland could sway this election | Jill Abramson |
| 8.49pm GMT | 8.49pm GMT |
| 20:49 | 20:49 |
| Marco Rubio on Garland nomination: “I know enough about his record to know I wouldn’t support him" | Marco Rubio on Garland nomination: “I know enough about his record to know I wouldn’t support him" |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| Two days after suspending his campaign for president, Marco Rubio wasted no time returning to his day job on Capitol Hill. | Two days after suspending his campaign for president, Marco Rubio wasted no time returning to his day job on Capitol Hill. |
| Rubio, while addressing reporters just before an intelligence committee hearing, was quick to put to rest any immediate speculation over his future. | Rubio, while addressing reporters just before an intelligence committee hearing, was quick to put to rest any immediate speculation over his future. |
| “I’m not going to be anybody’s vice president. I’m not interested in being vice president,” Rubio said. “I’m not running for governor of Florida. I’m going to finish out my term in the senate ... and then I’ll be a private citizen in January.” | “I’m not going to be anybody’s vice president. I’m not interested in being vice president,” Rubio said. “I’m not running for governor of Florida. I’m going to finish out my term in the senate ... and then I’ll be a private citizen in January.” |
| Rubio, who declined to seek re-election for his senate seat while running for president, also ruled out a late entry into the Florida race to hold on to his seat. Comments made by Rubio to his supporters earlier today on the state of the race garnered attention, after the senator reportedly said his former rival Ted Cruz was “the only conservative left in the race.” | Rubio, who declined to seek re-election for his senate seat while running for president, also ruled out a late entry into the Florida race to hold on to his seat. Comments made by Rubio to his supporters earlier today on the state of the race garnered attention, after the senator reportedly said his former rival Ted Cruz was “the only conservative left in the race.” |
| Rubio downplayed their significance while speaking with reporters, adding he was not making any endorsements at this stage. | Rubio downplayed their significance while speaking with reporters, adding he was not making any endorsements at this stage. |
| “Clearly Ted’s positions on issues are conservative, but I don’t have anything further to elaborate on,” Rubio said. He added that he likes Ohio governor John Kasich, too, but was simply stating his opinion on the remainder of the Republican field. | “Clearly Ted’s positions on issues are conservative, but I don’t have anything further to elaborate on,” Rubio said. He added that he likes Ohio governor John Kasich, too, but was simply stating his opinion on the remainder of the Republican field. |
| Rubio also held firm in his opposition to filling the supreme court vacancy left by the late justice Antonin Scalia under Barack Obama. The senator said he didn’t plan to meet with Merrick Garland, the president’s nominee, and even if they spoke it wouldn’t change his mind. | Rubio also held firm in his opposition to filling the supreme court vacancy left by the late justice Antonin Scalia under Barack Obama. The senator said he didn’t plan to meet with Merrick Garland, the president’s nominee, and even if they spoke it wouldn’t change his mind. |
| “I know enough about his record to know I wouldn’t support him and I know enough about the position in general to say I don’t think we should be moving forward on a nominee in the last year of this president’s term,” Rubio said. | “I know enough about his record to know I wouldn’t support him and I know enough about the position in general to say I don’t think we should be moving forward on a nominee in the last year of this president’s term,” Rubio said. |
| 8.26pm GMT | 8.26pm GMT |
| 20:26 | 20:26 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Onetime gubernatorial candidate and former grand wizard of the Ku Kluz Klan David Duke has declared that the success of Republican billionaire frontrunner Donald Trump could go a long way towards rehabilitating Adolf Hitler’s public image. | Onetime gubernatorial candidate and former grand wizard of the Ku Kluz Klan David Duke has declared that the success of Republican billionaire frontrunner Donald Trump could go a long way towards rehabilitating Adolf Hitler’s public image. |
| Duke, who has endorsed Trump’s bid for the Republican nomination, declared on his radio show this week that “they might be rehabilitating that fellow with the mustache back there in Germany, because I saw a commercial against Donald Trump, a really vicious commercial, comparing what Donald Trump said about preserving America and making America great again to Hitler in Germany preserving Germany and making Germany great again.” | Duke, who has endorsed Trump’s bid for the Republican nomination, declared on his radio show this week that “they might be rehabilitating that fellow with the mustache back there in Germany, because I saw a commercial against Donald Trump, a really vicious commercial, comparing what Donald Trump said about preserving America and making America great again to Hitler in Germany preserving Germany and making Germany great again.” |
| “This war that’s going on against Donald Trump is really a war going on against America, it’s a war going on against the European-American majority,” Duke said later in the program. “The media has incited hatred and violence and repression of Donald Trump and the hundreds of thousands, the millions of people who support him, and that’s what happened in Chicago.” | “This war that’s going on against Donald Trump is really a war going on against America, it’s a war going on against the European-American majority,” Duke said later in the program. “The media has incited hatred and violence and repression of Donald Trump and the hundreds of thousands, the millions of people who support him, and that’s what happened in Chicago.” |
| Trump has gotten heat for dragging his feet on condemning Duke and the Ku Klux Klan, telling CNN that “certainly I would disavow it if I thought there was something wrong.” | Trump has gotten heat for dragging his feet on condemning Duke and the Ku Klux Klan, telling CNN that “certainly I would disavow it if I thought there was something wrong.” |
| Trump subsequently reversed course, tweeting: “As I stated at the press conference on Friday regarding David Duke – I disavow.” | Trump subsequently reversed course, tweeting: “As I stated at the press conference on Friday regarding David Duke – I disavow.” |
| 8.07pm GMT | 8.07pm GMT |
| 20:07 | 20:07 |
| General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, discussed suggestions made by Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump on dealing with Islamic State terrorists, while appearing before the Senate armed services committee today. | General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, discussed suggestions made by Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump on dealing with Islamic State terrorists, while appearing before the Senate armed services committee today. |
| While Trump was not mentioned by name, the general said asking members of the military to “target civilian non-combatants and engage in techniques such as waterboarding” – both of which have been championed by Trump – would have “many adverse effects”, including on force morale. | While Trump was not mentioned by name, the general said asking members of the military to “target civilian non-combatants and engage in techniques such as waterboarding” – both of which have been championed by Trump – would have “many adverse effects”, including on force morale. |
| 7.40pm GMT | 7.40pm GMT |
| 19:40 | 19:40 |
| David Smith | David Smith |
| Republican opposition to the nomination of a supreme court justice is crumbling now that the “stellar” Merrick Garland has been put forward, senate Democrats claimed on Thursday. | Republican opposition to the nomination of a supreme court justice is crumbling now that the “stellar” Merrick Garland has been put forward, senate Democrats claimed on Thursday. |
| The Republican leadership is holding out against senate confirmation hearings or a vote after Barack Obama named Garland to replace conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month. Republican senators insist that the next president should make the selection. | The Republican leadership is holding out against senate confirmation hearings or a vote after Barack Obama named Garland to replace conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month. Republican senators insist that the next president should make the selection. |
| But Chuck Schumer, Democratic senator for New York, said in response to a question from the Guardian on Thursday: “We are seeing cracks on the Republican side. About five or six members have agreed already to meet with the nominee and I think what happened is they saw how stellar the nominee was and they realised how bad it would be not to ... They’re feeling the heat and we believe we’ll see many more cracks over the next two weeks.” | But Chuck Schumer, Democratic senator for New York, said in response to a question from the Guardian on Thursday: “We are seeing cracks on the Republican side. About five or six members have agreed already to meet with the nominee and I think what happened is they saw how stellar the nominee was and they realised how bad it would be not to ... They’re feeling the heat and we believe we’ll see many more cracks over the next two weeks.” |
| Schumer and other Democratic senators addressed reporters outside the supreme court ahead of Garland’s first meetings on Capitol Hill on Thursday afternoon. He was due to make courtesy calls on Democrats Harry Reid and Patrick Leahy but not on Republicans. | Schumer and other Democratic senators addressed reporters outside the supreme court ahead of Garland’s first meetings on Capitol Hill on Thursday afternoon. He was due to make courtesy calls on Democrats Harry Reid and Patrick Leahy but not on Republicans. |
| Related: Democrats see 'cracks' in Republican block of Merrick Garland confirmation | Related: Democrats see 'cracks' in Republican block of Merrick Garland confirmation |
| 7.16pm GMT | 7.16pm GMT |
| 19:16 | 19:16 |
| Billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has discovered Twitter’s polling function... | Billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has discovered Twitter’s polling function... |
| Who should star in a reboot of Liar Liar- Hillary Clinton or Ted Cruz? Let me know. https://t.co/ESdiEftWGs | Who should star in a reboot of Liar Liar- Hillary Clinton or Ted Cruz? Let me know. https://t.co/ESdiEftWGs |
| 6.55pm GMT | 6.55pm GMT |
| 18:55 | 18:55 |
| Video – Top military official says Trump’s plans would have ‘adverse effects’ | Video – Top military official says Trump’s plans would have ‘adverse effects’ |