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As Wisconsin votes, both front-runners are playing defense Wisconsin primary: Cruz and Sanders want to make front-runners’ paths more difficult
(about 1 hour later)
MILWAUKEE — As Wisconsin voters headed to the polls 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 Wisconsin voters headed to the polls 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. In the Democratic race, national front-runner Clinton has trailed Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) in pre-election polling in Wisconsin.
[Trump on how he would force Mexico to pay for border wall] 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 efforts to sway the hundreds of “super-delegates” who are free to make up their own minds. So far, Clinton seems to have a huge lead in that group.
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. In the Republican primary, most polls showed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) leading Trump by at least a few points.
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. Cruz gained significant support here in the past few days thanks to an endorsement by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and influential Wisconsin talk-radio hosts. He also owes some thanks to Trump, who has spent the time since the last GOP primaries inflicting a series of disasters on his own campaign.
Both Trump and Clinton maintain that they can still win in the state. Trump re-tweeted a fan who was insulting Cruz’s wife. Trump called for some kind of “punishment” against women who have abortions. And Trump defended his campaign manager, who’d been charged with battery for grabbing a reporter, by suggesting that the reporter’s pen could have been “a little bomb.”
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. Now, Wisconsin could complete Cruz’s remarkable turnabout — from the ultimate GOP pariah to the last, best hope of the anti-Trump establishment. A new Reuters-Ipsos poll Tuesday showed that Cruz is in a dead heat with Trump nationally after having trailed him by nearly 20 points a month ago.
“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.” If he wins in Wisconsin, Cruz will make it much harder for Trump to win the nomination without a fight at the convention. And if it comes down to a fight at the convention, Cruz has out-hustled Trump to secure support among individual delegates.
[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 the four biggest delegate prizes left by overwhelming margins, including Clinton’s home state of New York, to erase her big lead. He did not mention Wisconsin. In early exit polling, only about one-third of Republican voters in Wisconsin said Trump had the best chance to beat Clinton in a general election, according to polls reported by ABC News. Cruz did better: More than 4 in 10 named Cruz as the Republican with the best chance. And fewer than 2 in 10 choose Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the more moderate candidate running a distant third.
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 contest, 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.
In an interview Tuesday with MSNBC’s Chris Jansing outside a Waukesha, Wis., polling site, Trump admitted that 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 that 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.”“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 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 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 Rudolph W. 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 Rudolph W. 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.
Titled “Digging through the Bull S---,” 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 has waned.Titled “Digging through the Bull S---,” 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 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.”
That sort of sentiment resonated with Lisa Oleniczak, who voted for Trump at a precinct in Oak Creek, just south of Milwaukee.That sort of sentiment resonated with Lisa Oleniczak, who voted for Trump at a precinct in Oak Creek, just south of Milwaukee.
“He’s not from the establishment,” she said.“He’s not from the establishment,” she said.
But Ron Kurtz, 67, said he voted for Cruz because the New York billionaire’s attacks on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and other elected GOP officials had gone too far.But Ron Kurtz, 67, said he voted for Cruz because the New York billionaire’s attacks on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and other elected GOP officials had gone too far.
“I don’t like some of Trump’s statements — like cutting down McCain for being captured,” he said.“I don’t like some of Trump’s statements — like cutting down McCain for being captured,” he said.
On the Democratic side, 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 Democratic side, 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.
After holding a rally Monday night in Milwaukee, Sanders mingled with voters and stayed for breakfast Tuesday morning at Blue’s Egg diner, a city institution.After holding a rally Monday night in Milwaukee, Sanders mingled with voters and stayed for breakfast Tuesday morning at Blue’s Egg diner, a city institution.
“If people come out to vote in large numbers, I think we’re going to do very, very well,” Sanders told reporters as he entered the restaurant with Barbara Lawton, a former Wisconsin lieutenant governor, before ordering blueberry pancakes.“If people come out to vote in large numbers, I think we’re going to do very, very well,” Sanders told reporters as he entered the restaurant with Barbara Lawton, a former Wisconsin lieutenant governor, before ordering blueberry pancakes.
Dale Dulberger, 66, of nearby Wauwatosa, Wis., said he heard on the news that Sanders was at the diner and wanted to come say hello after having voted for him Tuesday morning.Dale Dulberger, 66, of nearby Wauwatosa, Wis., said he heard on the news that Sanders was at the diner and wanted to come say hello after having voted for him Tuesday morning.
“I think he’s really authentic,” Dulberger, who teaches at a county technical college, said of Sanders. “I think people believe what he’s saying. His proposals are idealistic, but that’s what a president is supposed to do.”“I think he’s really authentic,” Dulberger, who teaches at a county technical college, said of Sanders. “I think people believe what he’s saying. His proposals are idealistic, but that’s what a president is supposed to do.”
Donna Ernst, who sells insurance and lives in nearby New Berlin, waited outside the diner to see Sanders, and said voting for him was an easy decision.Donna Ernst, who sells insurance and lives in nearby New Berlin, waited outside the diner to see Sanders, and said voting for him was an easy decision.
“He has a heart,” said Ernst, 43. “He’s not corrupt. He’s not greedy.”“He has a heart,” said Ernst, 43. “He’s not corrupt. He’s not greedy.”
Sanders planned to travel later Tuesday to campaign in Wyoming, which holds its Democratic caucuses Saturday.Sanders planned to travel later Tuesday to campaign in Wyoming, which holds its Democratic caucuses Saturday.
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.
[No longer a candidate, Scott Walker looms large in Wisconsin primary][No longer a candidate, Scott Walker looms large in Wisconsin primary]
Speaking on “The View,” Clinton tackled a range of issues, including the perception that she’s inauthentic (“I’ve been pretty much the same person” throughout her career, she said) and how she communicates with her granddaughter Charlotte on her Apple devices (“FaceTime was invented for grandparents.”)Speaking on “The View,” Clinton tackled a range of issues, including the perception that she’s inauthentic (“I’ve been pretty much the same person” throughout her career, she said) and how she communicates with her granddaughter Charlotte on her Apple devices (“FaceTime was invented for grandparents.”)
But she reserved her sharpest comments for Trump, rather than Sanders. But she reserved her sharpest comments for Trump rather than Sanders.
“I just don’t understand what he thinks is the role of somebody running for president,” Clinton said Tuesday. “I don’t think it is to scapegoat people, divide people or engage in this kind of prejudice and paranoia.”“I just don’t understand what he thinks is the role of somebody running for president,” Clinton said Tuesday. “I don’t think it is to scapegoat people, divide people or engage in this kind of prejudice and paranoia.”
Clinton’s campaign announced no plans for an election-night party, instead scheduling an evening fundraising party in New York.Clinton’s campaign announced no plans for an election-night party, instead scheduling an evening fundraising party in New York.
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 and Sean Sullivan in Milwaukee, and Robert Costa, Jenna Johnson and Abby Phillip in Washington contributed to this report. Gearan reported from New York and Eilperin from Washington. John Wagner and Sean Sullivan in Milwaukee, and Robert Costa, David A. Fahrenthold, Jenna Johnson and Abby Phillip in Washington contributed to this report.