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| As Wisconsin votes, both front-runners are playing defense | As Wisconsin votes, both front-runners are playing defense |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MILWAUKEE — As polls opened across Wisconsin on Tuesday, the front-runners in the presidential race — Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — braced for results that could deliver embarrassing setbacks and further unsettle contests on both sides. | MILWAUKEE — As polls opened across Wisconsin on Tuesday, the front-runners in the presidential race — Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — braced for results that could deliver embarrassing setbacks and further unsettle contests on both sides. |
| A loss for Trump in the GOP primary could reset a Republican contest that has been dominated by his outsider candidacy and outsize media presence. State polls show Trump in a tight race with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, prompting speculation about whether Wisconsin could expose cracks in the billionaire’s high-flying nomination run. | A loss for Trump in the GOP primary could reset a Republican contest that has been dominated by his outsider candidacy and outsize media presence. State polls show Trump in a tight race with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, prompting speculation about whether Wisconsin could expose cracks in the billionaire’s high-flying nomination run. |
| [Trump on how he would force Mexico to pay for border wall] | [Trump on how he would force Mexico to pay for border wall] |
| Those same polls show Clinton in a similarly tight race with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whose populist, anti-Wall Street message has transformed what was expected to be an easy nomination race for Clinton. | Those same polls show Clinton in a similarly tight race with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whose populist, anti-Wall Street message has transformed what was expected to be an easy nomination race for Clinton. |
| Winning Wisconsin, where polls will close at 9 p.m. EDT, would give Sanders a fresh dose of momentum — and perhaps new credibility for his claim that he has a chance to catch Clinton in the delegate count and win the Democratic nomination. | Winning Wisconsin, where polls will close at 9 p.m. EDT, would give Sanders a fresh dose of momentum — and perhaps new credibility for his claim that he has a chance to catch Clinton in the delegate count and win the Democratic nomination. |
| Both Trump and Clinton maintain they can still win in Wisconsin. | Both Trump and Clinton maintain they can still win in Wisconsin. |
| But on the Democratic side, Sanders’s unexpected staying power has unnerved some of Clinton’s supporters. In a memo sent to backers Monday evening, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook sounded aggravated. | But on the Democratic side, Sanders’s unexpected staying power has unnerved some of Clinton’s supporters. In a memo sent to backers Monday evening, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook sounded aggravated. |
| “Hillary Clinton has built a nearly insurmountable lead among both delegates and actual voters,” he wrote. “Contrary to the claims of the Sanders campaign, in measure after measure, Clinton has shown the broadest support of any candidate currently running for president. We know that the misleading spin will continue, but we wanted you to know the facts about the real state of the Democratic primary.” | “Hillary Clinton has built a nearly insurmountable lead among both delegates and actual voters,” he wrote. “Contrary to the claims of the Sanders campaign, in measure after measure, Clinton has shown the broadest support of any candidate currently running for president. We know that the misleading spin will continue, but we wanted you to know the facts about the real state of the Democratic primary.” |
| [Kasich: “Impossible” for any in GOP field to lock up delegate count] | [Kasich: “Impossible” for any in GOP field to lock up delegate count] |
| Mook said Sanders would have to win by overwhelming margins the four biggest delegate prizes left, including Clinton’s home state of New York, to erase her big lead. He did not mention Wisconsin. | Mook said Sanders would have to win by overwhelming margins the four biggest delegate prizes left, including Clinton’s home state of New York, to erase her big lead. He did not mention Wisconsin. |
| Trump stumbled badly during the run-up to Wisconsin with a gaffe over abortion in which he said that if abortions were banned, women who seek them should be punished. He promptly retracted the statement. He also took a hit over comments on foreign policy that led President Obama to say that the businessman knows little about the world. | Trump stumbled badly during the run-up to Wisconsin with a gaffe over abortion in which he said that if abortions were banned, women who seek them should be punished. He promptly retracted the statement. He also took a hit over comments on foreign policy that led President Obama to say that the businessman knows little about the world. |
| Partly as a result, the Wisconsin race has emerged as a key moment in the Republican nomination, exposing weaknesses for Trump in an industrial state with a large working class — demographics that have favored him in other states. | Partly as a result, the Wisconsin race has emerged as a key moment in the Republican nomination, exposing weaknesses for Trump in an industrial state with a large working class — demographics that have favored him in other states. |
| A Marquette Law School poll released last week showed Cruz surging to 40 percent support among likely GOP voters, up from 19 percent in a February poll. Trump’s support remained steady at 30 percent. | A Marquette Law School poll released last week showed Cruz surging to 40 percent support among likely GOP voters, up from 19 percent in a February poll. Trump’s support remained steady at 30 percent. |
| In an interview Tuesday with MSNBC’s Chris Jansing outside a Waukesha, Wis., polling site, Trump admitted he made missteps even as he refused to concede that polls showing him trailing Cruz were accurate. | In an interview Tuesday with MSNBC’s Chris Jansing outside a Waukesha, Wis., polling site, Trump admitted he made missteps even as he refused to concede that polls showing him trailing Cruz were accurate. |
| “But I’ve had worse weeks on the campaign. I mean, I’ve had so many weeks that — I think a couple that were worse. And in one case I went up in the polls,” he said. “So, you know, it couldn’t have been so disastrous.” | |
| Trump has also dismissed speculation about a possible break in his momentum by pointing to his strengths in New York — his home state, which holds its primary on April 19 — and in the string of Eastern states that vote later this month. | Trump has also dismissed speculation about a possible break in his momentum by pointing to his strengths in New York — his home state, which holds its primary on April 19 — and in the string of Eastern states that vote later this month. |
| [Clinton and Sanders agree to debate before New York primary] | [Clinton and Sanders agree to debate before New York primary] |
| “I’ve been all over Wisconsin. We’re campaigning all over the place,” Trump said while being interviewed by “Fox & Friends” from a Wisconsin diner, where the television network bought the Republican front-runner a $9.95 breakfast. | “I’ve been all over Wisconsin. We’re campaigning all over the place,” Trump said while being interviewed by “Fox & Friends” from a Wisconsin diner, where the television network bought the Republican front-runner a $9.95 breakfast. |
| And I think we’re going to have a surprise tonight. . . . I think we’re going to have a great day,” he added later. “I’ve worked hard in Wisconsin.” | And I think we’re going to have a surprise tonight. . . . I think we’re going to have a great day,” he added later. “I’ve worked hard in Wisconsin.” |
| Anti-Trump Republicans, who have poured millions of dollars into attack ads around the country, are hopeful that a loss in Wisconsin would signal a break in the momentum that has kept Trump steadily rising in the polls. | Anti-Trump Republicans, who have poured millions of dollars into attack ads around the country, are hopeful that a loss in Wisconsin would signal a break in the momentum that has kept Trump steadily rising in the polls. |
| A loss in Wisconsin, they believe, would increase the likelihood of a contested Republican convention in July — a strategy that rests on keeping Trump from crossing the requisite 1,237-delegate threshold he needs to clinch the nomination outright. | A loss in Wisconsin, they believe, would increase the likelihood of a contested Republican convention in July — a strategy that rests on keeping Trump from crossing the requisite 1,237-delegate threshold he needs to clinch the nomination outright. |
| Speaking on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani — who has not made an endorsement in the race — said support for Cruz by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has given the Texas senator a critical boost. | Speaking on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani — who has not made an endorsement in the race — said support for Cruz by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has given the Texas senator a critical boost. |
| [Internal memo reveals Trump campaign’s mounting fury with critics] | [Internal memo reveals Trump campaign’s mounting fury with critics] |
| “Walker may have one of the better operations in the country, because of the way it’s been tested,” Giuliani said, referring to the 2012 recall challenge and other elections the governor has survived. “Absent the Walker machine, Trump wins Wisconsin.” | “Walker may have one of the better operations in the country, because of the way it’s been tested,” Giuliani said, referring to the 2012 recall challenge and other elections the governor has survived. “Absent the Walker machine, Trump wins Wisconsin.” |
| In a private document circulated over the weekend and obtained by The Washington Post, Trump campaign senior adviser Barry Bennett revealed the mounting frustrations among the billionaire’s top aides as they closed what had been a tumultuous week. | In a private document circulated over the weekend and obtained by The Washington Post, Trump campaign senior adviser Barry Bennett revealed the mounting frustrations among the billionaire’s top aides as they closed what had been a tumultuous week. |
| Entitled “Digging through the Bull [expletive],” Bennett’s memo urged Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski — who was charged with battery last week after allegedly yanking a reporter — and others to ignore critics who have questioned whether Trump’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination has waned. | Entitled “Digging through the Bull [expletive],” Bennett’s memo urged Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski — who was charged with battery last week after allegedly yanking a reporter — and others to ignore critics who have questioned whether Trump’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination has waned. |
| “America is sick of them. Their idiotic attacks just remind voters why they hate the Washington Establishment,” Bennett wrote, citing tracking poll data favorable to Trump. | “America is sick of them. Their idiotic attacks just remind voters why they hate the Washington Establishment,” Bennett wrote, citing tracking poll data favorable to Trump. |
| “Donald Trump 1,” Bennett declared, as if he was scoring the past week. “Washington Establishment/Media 0.” | “Donald Trump 1,” Bennett declared, as if he was scoring the past week. “Washington Establishment/Media 0.” |
| Clinton campaigned fewer days and before smaller crowds in Wisconsin than Sanders and turned much of her attention ahead to the larger stakes in New York. She did not mention the Wisconsin race during a rally Monday in Manhattan to cheer the state’s approval of a $15 minimum wage. | Clinton campaigned fewer days and before smaller crowds in Wisconsin than Sanders and turned much of her attention ahead to the larger stakes in New York. She did not mention the Wisconsin race during a rally Monday in Manhattan to cheer the state’s approval of a $15 minimum wage. |
| On the eve of the primary, Sanders touted his long-standing support for labor unions and his opposition to a series of “disastrous trade deals,” setting a contrast with Clinton that he’s pressed in other industrial, midwestern states. | On the eve of the primary, Sanders touted his long-standing support for labor unions and his opposition to a series of “disastrous trade deals,” setting a contrast with Clinton that he’s pressed in other industrial, midwestern states. |
| The senator from Vermont began his day in Janesville, where General Motors shuttered a manufacturing plant in 2008 and moved operations to Mexico, costing the community 2,800 jobs, Sanders said. | The senator from Vermont began his day in Janesville, where General Motors shuttered a manufacturing plant in 2008 and moved operations to Mexico, costing the community 2,800 jobs, Sanders said. |
| [No longer a candidate, Scott Walker looms large in Wisconsin primary] | [No longer a candidate, Scott Walker looms large in Wisconsin primary] |
| “I am not a candidate who goes to the unions, goes to workers, then leaves and goes to a fundraiser on Wall Street,” he said, taking a jab at Clinton and her ties to the financial sector. | “I am not a candidate who goes to the unions, goes to workers, then leaves and goes to a fundraiser on Wall Street,” he said, taking a jab at Clinton and her ties to the financial sector. |
| Clinton has also been critical of Sanders’s posture on trade while campaigning in Wisconsin. | Clinton has also been critical of Sanders’s posture on trade while campaigning in Wisconsin. |
| At a Democratic dinner in Milwaukee on Saturday, she said Sanders seems to pride himself on having “opposed all trade deals, all the time.” | At a Democratic dinner in Milwaukee on Saturday, she said Sanders seems to pride himself on having “opposed all trade deals, all the time.” |
| “But I don’t think that’s right,” because when “done right” trade arrangements can benefit American workers, Clinton said. | “But I don’t think that’s right,” because when “done right” trade arrangements can benefit American workers, Clinton said. |
| Aides to Clinton, who is spending the day in New York City, have been telegraphing a potential loss in Wisconsin for months. She is scheduled to appear on ABC’s morning program “The View” and hold a Women For Hillary town hall-style event in Brooklyn in the afternoon. | Aides to Clinton, who is spending the day in New York City, have been telegraphing a potential loss in Wisconsin for months. She is scheduled to appear on ABC’s morning program “The View” and hold a Women For Hillary town hall-style event in Brooklyn in the afternoon. |
| Her campaign announced no plans for an election-night party. She planned an evening fundraising party in New York, although the campaign did not provide details ahead of time. | Her campaign announced no plans for an election-night party. She planned an evening fundraising party in New York, although the campaign did not provide details ahead of time. |
| Sanders has made political hay with Clinton’s fundraising schedule, frequently noting that his donations are almost all raised online, in small amounts, while she relies heavily on big checks from wealthy donors. | Sanders has made political hay with Clinton’s fundraising schedule, frequently noting that his donations are almost all raised online, in small amounts, while she relies heavily on big checks from wealthy donors. |
| The third Republican still in the race, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, is far behind his two rivals in recent Wisconsin polls. He spent Monday campaigning in New York in advance of that state’s primary in two weeks. | The third Republican still in the race, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, is far behind his two rivals in recent Wisconsin polls. He spent Monday campaigning in New York in advance of that state’s primary in two weeks. |
| Forty-two delegates are at stake for Republicans, while 96 delegates will be awarded in the Democratic Party. Since delegates are assigned proportionally on the Democratic side, Sanders will have a difficult time slicing into Clinton’s overall lead if he does not win by an overwhelming margin. | Forty-two delegates are at stake for Republicans, while 96 delegates will be awarded in the Democratic Party. Since delegates are assigned proportionally on the Democratic side, Sanders will have a difficult time slicing into Clinton’s overall lead if he does not win by an overwhelming margin. |
| Gearan reported from New York and Eilperin from Washington. John Wagner in Janesville, Wis., and Robert Costa, Jenna Johnson and Abby Phillip in Washington contributed to this report. |