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| Clinton and Sanders stay in a New York state of mind – campaign live | Clinton and Sanders stay in a New York state of mind – campaign live |
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| 7.38pm BST | |
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| Ben Jacobs | |
| After a dozen debates, millions of votes and countless television ads, the Republican presidential race moved to a church gym yesterday as the struggle to reach the finish line disappears into backrooms and dark corners. | |
| Sitting on folding chairs in a brightly lit, sparsely decorated gym next to Seventh Day Adventist church in suburban Denver, party activists spent four hours after work listening to close to 100 speeches and choosing three of the 2,472 delegates to the Republican national convention in July. | |
| This is party politics at its most granular and mystifying. Most delegates are chosen in primaries or caucuses where individual voters show up and register their preference for the party’s nominee on a ballot. | |
| But in Colorado as well as Wyoming and North Dakota, voters have no say in the matter. Instead, party activists meeting in hotel ballrooms and church gymnasiums have that power. In these states, delegates are elected through an indirect process that culminates in congressional district and state conventions where party activists elect delegates to Cleveland. This is a process that is about organization, planning and strong grassroots support – and it’s one where Ted Cruz is excelling. | |
| Related: Republicans turn to trench warfare in an inch-by-inch battle for the nomination | |
| The biggest prize of these three states is Colorado, which sends 37 delegates to Cleveland. Each of Colorado’s seven congressional districts sends three delegates apiece to the convention while the state convention sends 13. North Dakota, which sends 28 delegates to the convention, held a raucous, confused affair last week where Cruz got a plurality of the delegates available. In Wyoming, 12 delegates were awarded in county conventions in early March and the remaining 17 will be elected at a state convention next weekend. | |
| Just like the national convention in recent years, these delegate contests had long been considered academic, internal party affairs. However, with the growing likelihood of a contested convention where no candidate receives the 1,237 delegates to clinch the nomination, they have become vital affairs as campaigns claw for every possible delegate. | |
| 7.22pm BST | |
| 19:22 | |
| Is Ben Carson a Trojan endorser? | |
| The retired pediatric neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential candidate endorsed billionaire frontrunner Donald Trump in a widely publicized event in March, calling Trump “actually a very intelligent man” who is more “cerebral” than he lets on. | |
| But since then, Carson has proved to be a more problematic campaign surrogate than Trump might have hoped for. A few days after his endorsement, Carson told Newsmax TV that even if the real estate tycoon turned out to be a bad president, “we’re only looking at four years” of it. In the same interview, he admitted that he would have preferred to offer his support to another candidate, “but that scenario isn’t available.” | |
| After Trump made comments suggesting that women should be legally punished if they have abortions, and then clarified his remarks by saying that abortion laws should not be changed, Carson chalked it up to inexperience. “You know how politicians are,” he said on CNN. “He has not really learned that - he’s not a politician.” Last week, Carson even said that Trump “has some major defects, there’s no question about it,” and acknowledged that there are “probably” better people for the job. | |
| Most recently, on The Kelly File last night, Carson told host Megyn Kelly Trump “has horrible numbers” when it comes to likability, chuckling. | |
| Whether this is the logical result of an unvetted outsider stumbling over his words or the calculated work of a former neurosurgeon still sore over Trump’s move to implicitly compare him to a child molester remains to be seen. | |
| 7.14pm BST | 7.14pm BST |
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| Video: Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has announced that he accepted an invitation from the Vatican to participate in a conference next week dealing with how leaders can “inject morality into the world’s economy.” | Video: Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has announced that he accepted an invitation from the Vatican to participate in a conference next week dealing with how leaders can “inject morality into the world’s economy.” |
| 6.45pm BST | 6.45pm BST |
| 18:45 | 18:45 |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| Bill Clinton came close to an apology today for engaging in a heated exchange with Black Lives Matter protesters while stumping for wife Hillary Clinton on Thursday. | Bill Clinton came close to an apology today for engaging in a heated exchange with Black Lives Matter protesters while stumping for wife Hillary Clinton on Thursday. |
| During a campaign event in Eerie, Pennsylvania, the former president brought up the incident in Philadelphia that has since gone viral, acknowledging that he had failed to listen to activists protesting against his 1994 crime bill. | During a campaign event in Eerie, Pennsylvania, the former president brought up the incident in Philadelphia that has since gone viral, acknowledging that he had failed to listen to activists protesting against his 1994 crime bill. |
| “I like and believe in protests,” Clinton told the crowd at Penn State Behrend. “But I never thought I should drown anybody else out. And I confess - maybe it’s just a sign of old age - but it bothers me now when that happens.” | “I like and believe in protests,” Clinton told the crowd at Penn State Behrend. “But I never thought I should drown anybody else out. And I confess - maybe it’s just a sign of old age - but it bothers me now when that happens.” |
| He added: “I almost want to apologize for it, but I want to use it as an example of the danger threatening our country.” | He added: “I almost want to apologize for it, but I want to use it as an example of the danger threatening our country.” |
| When confronted by protesters the day before, Clinton issued a sharp defense of the tough-on-crime legislation he signed as president that paved the way for mass incarceration. He also recycled language about black teenagers Hillary Clinton has since distanced herself from. | When confronted by protesters the day before, Clinton issued a sharp defense of the tough-on-crime legislation he signed as president that paved the way for mass incarceration. He also recycled language about black teenagers Hillary Clinton has since distanced herself from. |
| “I don’t know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped up on crack and send them out in the street to murder other African-American children,” a fired-up Clinton told the protesters, before adding of his wife: “Maybe you thought they were good citizens, she didn’t. She didn’t.” | “I don’t know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped up on crack and send them out in the street to murder other African-American children,” a fired-up Clinton told the protesters, before adding of his wife: “Maybe you thought they were good citizens, she didn’t. She didn’t.” |
| He added: “You are defending the people who kill the lives you say matter. Tell the truth.” | He added: “You are defending the people who kill the lives you say matter. Tell the truth.” |
| Hillary Clinton has charted her own path on crime during her second bid for president, particularly as criminal justice reform as emerged as a key issue in the 2016 cycle. She has specifically conceded that the bill signed by her husband had unintended consequences with regard to imposing lengthy sentences for nonviolent offenses and disproportionately affecting minorities. | Hillary Clinton has charted her own path on crime during her second bid for president, particularly as criminal justice reform as emerged as a key issue in the 2016 cycle. She has specifically conceded that the bill signed by her husband had unintended consequences with regard to imposing lengthy sentences for nonviolent offenses and disproportionately affecting minorities. |
| Bill Clinton has in the past taken a similar view, which made his outburst on Thursday all the more unexpected. | Bill Clinton has in the past taken a similar view, which made his outburst on Thursday all the more unexpected. |
| Reflecting further today, the former president said he missed the broader point while “rather vigorously” defending his wife against the attacks. | Reflecting further today, the former president said he missed the broader point while “rather vigorously” defending his wife against the attacks. |
| “I realized, finally, I was talking past [the protester] the way she was talking past me. We gotta stop that in this country. We gotta listen to each other again,” he said. | “I realized, finally, I was talking past [the protester] the way she was talking past me. We gotta stop that in this country. We gotta listen to each other again,” he said. |
| Clinton also made clear once more that his bill did, in fact, contribute to some of the systemic problems within the criminal justice system. | Clinton also made clear once more that his bill did, in fact, contribute to some of the systemic problems within the criminal justice system. |
| “It is true it had longer sentence provisions,” he said. “It is true that they led to some people going to jail for too long in ways that cannot be justified.” | “It is true it had longer sentence provisions,” he said. “It is true that they led to some people going to jail for too long in ways that cannot be justified.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.59pm BST | at 6.59pm BST |
| 6.33pm BST | 6.33pm BST |
| 18:33 | 18:33 |
| Donald Trump clarifies answer to question regarding past girlfriends' abortions | Donald Trump clarifies answer to question regarding past girlfriends' abortions |
| In the latest of numerous clarifications, corrections and backtracks on the issue of abortion, billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump cleared up ambiguous remarks regarding whether any of his past girlfriends had abortions. | In the latest of numerous clarifications, corrections and backtracks on the issue of abortion, billionaire Republican frontrunner Donald Trump cleared up ambiguous remarks regarding whether any of his past girlfriends had abortions. |
| “The answer is ‘no,’” Trump told the Washington Post’s Mary Jordan. | “The answer is ‘no,’” Trump told the Washington Post’s Mary Jordan. |
| It was Trump’s second go at answering the question, after he evaded answering New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd when she asked if he had ever been involved with a woman who had the procedure during his well-publicized bachelor days. | It was Trump’s second go at answering the question, after he evaded answering New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd when she asked if he had ever been involved with a woman who had the procedure during his well-publicized bachelor days. |
| “Such an interesting question,” Trump replied. “So, what’s your next question?” | “Such an interesting question,” Trump replied. “So, what’s your next question?” |
| Trump’s deflection was read by many as a tacit admission that he had, in fact, dated women who had abortions. | Trump’s deflection was read by many as a tacit admission that he had, in fact, dated women who had abortions. |
| 6.20pm BST | 6.20pm BST |
| 18:20 | 18:20 |
| CNN political producer Dan Merica asked former secretary of state Hillary Clinton whether she had ever crashed a party at the Vatican. Her wordless response says a lot. | CNN political producer Dan Merica asked former secretary of state Hillary Clinton whether she had ever crashed a party at the Vatican. Her wordless response says a lot. |
| I asked Hillary Clinton if she has ever crashed a party at the Vatican. This was her response (video by @hannahfc): pic.twitter.com/H71OMmftSF | I asked Hillary Clinton if she has ever crashed a party at the Vatican. This was her response (video by @hannahfc): pic.twitter.com/H71OMmftSF |
| 5.33pm BST | 5.33pm BST |
| 17:33 | 17:33 |
| In about half an hour, four relatives of Americans killed by gun violence will join New York City public advocate Letitia James to condemn comments made by Vermont senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders in which he said that gun manufacturers should be immune from lawsuits seeking damages for victims of the weapons they make. | In about half an hour, four relatives of Americans killed by gun violence will join New York City public advocate Letitia James to condemn comments made by Vermont senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders in which he said that gun manufacturers should be immune from lawsuits seeking damages for victims of the weapons they make. |
| Erica Smegielski, whose mother Dawn Hochsprung was the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary, Jillian Soto, whose sister Vicki was also slain at Sandy Hook, and Sandy Phillips, whose daughter Jessica Ghawi killed in a movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, released a statement through Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign stating their intent to “discuss the personal impact of Bernie Sanders’ gun record.” | Erica Smegielski, whose mother Dawn Hochsprung was the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary, Jillian Soto, whose sister Vicki was also slain at Sandy Hook, and Sandy Phillips, whose daughter Jessica Ghawi killed in a movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, released a statement through Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign stating their intent to “discuss the personal impact of Bernie Sanders’ gun record.” |
| As a refresher, here are Sanders’ comments to the New York Daily News on the subject: | As a refresher, here are Sanders’ comments to the New York Daily News on the subject: |
| Daily News: The victims of the Sandy Hook massacre are looking to have the right to sue for damages the manufacturers of the weapons. Do you think that that is something that should be expanded? | Daily News: The victims of the Sandy Hook massacre are looking to have the right to sue for damages the manufacturers of the weapons. Do you think that that is something that should be expanded? |
| Sanders: Do I think the victims of a crime with a gun should be able to sue the manufacturer, is that your question? | Sanders: Do I think the victims of a crime with a gun should be able to sue the manufacturer, is that your question? |
| Daily News: Correct. | Daily News: Correct. |
| Sanders: No, I don’t. | Sanders: No, I don’t. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.18pm BST | at 6.18pm BST |
| 5.22pm BST | 5.22pm BST |
| 17:22 | 17:22 |
| Billionaire Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has injected a certain showbiz sensibility to the American political discourse ever since he threw his hat in the ring for the race for the White House. And now, American political sensibilities are being injected into showbiz. | Billionaire Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has injected a certain showbiz sensibility to the American political discourse ever since he threw his hat in the ring for the race for the White House. And now, American political sensibilities are being injected into showbiz. |
| Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, bestowed in 2007 for the success of his reality television show The Apprentice, has been the target of serial defacement since his he announced his candidacy. The star has been peed on; the star has been used as a receptacle for dog waste; the star has been spray-painted with a swastika and a “mute” symbol. | Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, bestowed in 2007 for the success of his reality television show The Apprentice, has been the target of serial defacement since his he announced his candidacy. The star has been peed on; the star has been used as a receptacle for dog waste; the star has been spray-painted with a swastika and a “mute” symbol. |
| Someone spray painted a mute symbol on Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 😂 pic.twitter.com/CjkRzrZYdH | Someone spray painted a mute symbol on Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 😂 pic.twitter.com/CjkRzrZYdH |
| Now, a petition has been drawn up demanding that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Historic Trust, which administer and maintain the roughly 2,500 stars on the Walk of Fame, respectively, remove Trump’s star. | Now, a petition has been drawn up demanding that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Historic Trust, which administer and maintain the roughly 2,500 stars on the Walk of Fame, respectively, remove Trump’s star. |
| “The fact that Donald Trump has a star along with the likes of Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and Audrey Hepburn is an insult in and of itself,” petition author Kelsey Bourgeois wrote. “The presidential candidate and former reality TV star has been spawning hateful, sexist and racist rhetoric since the beginning of his campaign. Trump’s despicable messaging represents all the worst parts of our national conversation,which explains the public’s disdain for this historical monument to him.” | “The fact that Donald Trump has a star along with the likes of Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and Audrey Hepburn is an insult in and of itself,” petition author Kelsey Bourgeois wrote. “The presidential candidate and former reality TV star has been spawning hateful, sexist and racist rhetoric since the beginning of his campaign. Trump’s despicable messaging represents all the worst parts of our national conversation,which explains the public’s disdain for this historical monument to him.” |
| The petition to remove Trump’s star - which has never happened before, despite moves to remove Bill Cosby’s star after more than 50 rape allegations surfaced in the past year - currently has more than 13,000 signatures. | The petition to remove Trump’s star - which has never happened before, despite moves to remove Bill Cosby’s star after more than 50 rape allegations surfaced in the past year - currently has more than 13,000 signatures. |
| 4.58pm BST | 4.58pm BST |
| 16:58 | 16:58 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Former representative and onetime presidential candidate Michele Bachmann was apparently in New York City today, and found the time to show former secretary of state and current Democratic presidential frontrunner “how to use the subway”. | Former representative and onetime presidential candidate Michele Bachmann was apparently in New York City today, and found the time to show former secretary of state and current Democratic presidential frontrunner “how to use the subway”. |
| I showed Hillary how to use the subway in New York City today. pic.twitter.com/8ZJPvMYBDe | I showed Hillary how to use the subway in New York City today. pic.twitter.com/8ZJPvMYBDe |
| “Hi, this is for Hillary Clinton,” Bachmann tells the camera. “I know you had a tough time, Hillary, trying to figure out how to do the subway system, even though you were the US senator from New York.” | “Hi, this is for Hillary Clinton,” Bachmann tells the camera. “I know you had a tough time, Hillary, trying to figure out how to do the subway system, even though you were the US senator from New York.” |
| Bachmann then swiped her Metrocard - admittedly a tricky thing sometimes, like if you’re in a rush and the stairwell is slippery and you’re a little flustered and then you hear the L Train pulling into the station and you know that if you miss it that the Bedford Avenue stop doesn’t have cell service so you’ll be stuck playing Kim Kardashian: Hollywood for twenty minutes until the next one - before adding: “Just that easy, just that quick!” | Bachmann then swiped her Metrocard - admittedly a tricky thing sometimes, like if you’re in a rush and the stairwell is slippery and you’re a little flustered and then you hear the L Train pulling into the station and you know that if you miss it that the Bedford Avenue stop doesn’t have cell service so you’ll be stuck playing Kim Kardashian: Hollywood for twenty minutes until the next one - before adding: “Just that easy, just that quick!” |
| Clinton was mocked for having a tough time using her Metrocard, which blunted criticism of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, a Brooklyn native who thought that subways still take tokens, a practice that ended in 2003. | Clinton was mocked for having a tough time using her Metrocard, which blunted criticism of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, a Brooklyn native who thought that subways still take tokens, a practice that ended in 2003. |
| 4.20pm BST | 4.20pm BST |
| 16:20 | 16:20 |
| Here’s video of Bernie Sanders’ appearance on Morning Joe this morning, wherein he details his planned visit to Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis. | Here’s video of Bernie Sanders’ appearance on Morning Joe this morning, wherein he details his planned visit to Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis. |
| “I was very moved by the invitation, which just was made public today,” Sanders said. “I am a big, big fan of the pope. Obviously there are areas where we disagree - on women’s rights or gay rights. But he has played an unbelievable role. An unbelievable role of injecting a moral consequence into the economy.” | “I was very moved by the invitation, which just was made public today,” Sanders said. “I am a big, big fan of the pope. Obviously there are areas where we disagree - on women’s rights or gay rights. But he has played an unbelievable role. An unbelievable role of injecting a moral consequence into the economy.” |
| Sanders drew a connection between his own advocacy against wealth inequality and that of the pontiff, who has criticized capitalism as an engine of poverty. | Sanders drew a connection between his own advocacy against wealth inequality and that of the pontiff, who has criticized capitalism as an engine of poverty. |
| “There are people who think that Bernie Sanders is radical - read what the pope is writing!” Sanders continued. “What he is saying is not only that we have to pay attention to what he calls the ‘dispossessed’ ... but you know what else he’s even doing - he’s talking about the idolatry of money. The worship of money. The greed that’s out there.” | “There are people who think that Bernie Sanders is radical - read what the pope is writing!” Sanders continued. “What he is saying is not only that we have to pay attention to what he calls the ‘dispossessed’ ... but you know what else he’s even doing - he’s talking about the idolatry of money. The worship of money. The greed that’s out there.” |
| 4.03pm BST | 4.03pm BST |
| 16:03 | 16:03 |
| Apropos those delegates … AP’s Nick Riccardi sees little love for the frontrunner. | Apropos those delegates … AP’s Nick Riccardi sees little love for the frontrunner. |
| The scene at the CD5 assembly symbolizes the simple, orderly way the COGOP is choosing its delegates. pic.twitter.com/X2HgjXo2Jr | The scene at the CD5 assembly symbolizes the simple, orderly way the COGOP is choosing its delegates. pic.twitter.com/X2HgjXo2Jr |
| Ted Cruz slate in CD5. As has been the case here in CO, no one else has such a visible presence. #copolitics pic.twitter.com/gr4M5qfEF2 | Ted Cruz slate in CD5. As has been the case here in CO, no one else has such a visible presence. #copolitics pic.twitter.com/gr4M5qfEF2 |
| 3.54pm BST | 3.54pm BST |
| 15:54 | 15:54 |
| Mitt Romney’s niece has pledged her delegate vote to Donald Trump, the Detroit News reports, in a decision that will not make her popular at family events with the anti-Trump scion. | Mitt Romney’s niece has pledged her delegate vote to Donald Trump, the Detroit News reports, in a decision that will not make her popular at family events with the anti-Trump scion. |
| Ronna Romney McDaniel, the chairwoman for the Michigan Republican party, said on Thursday that she and another committee member will pledge their votes to Trump. | Ronna Romney McDaniel, the chairwoman for the Michigan Republican party, said on Thursday that she and another committee member will pledge their votes to Trump. |
| Her uncle has lead the charge to prevent Trump from becoming the Republican nominee, excoriating him as often as he can. Last month he wrote: “Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence. I am repulsed by each and every one of these.” | Her uncle has lead the charge to prevent Trump from becoming the Republican nominee, excoriating him as often as he can. Last month he wrote: “Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence. I am repulsed by each and every one of these.” |
| The 2012 Republican candidate voted for Ted Cruz in Utah, though he has not endorsed him. He said that although he likes John Kasich, “a vote for Governor Kasich in future contests makes it extremely likely that Trumpism would prevail.” | The 2012 Republican candidate voted for Ted Cruz in Utah, though he has not endorsed him. He said that although he likes John Kasich, “a vote for Governor Kasich in future contests makes it extremely likely that Trumpism would prevail.” |
| “I will vote for Senator Cruz and I encourage others to do so as well, so that we can have an open convention and nominate a Republican,” he wrote. | “I will vote for Senator Cruz and I encourage others to do so as well, so that we can have an open convention and nominate a Republican,” he wrote. |
| Romney McDaniel explained her vote to the Detroit News: “I’m going to go with the voters of Michigan.” | Romney McDaniel explained her vote to the Detroit News: “I’m going to go with the voters of Michigan.” |
| Trump won the state with 36.5% of the vote and 25 delegates. Cruz and Kasich each won 17 delegates there. The three campaigns have started aggressively pursuing any and all unpledged delegates, Cruz to force an open convention and Trump to prevent one. From the Detroit News: | Trump won the state with 36.5% of the vote and 25 delegates. Cruz and Kasich each won 17 delegates there. The three campaigns have started aggressively pursuing any and all unpledged delegates, Cruz to force an open convention and Trump to prevent one. From the Detroit News: |
| More than 200 Michigan Republicans have applied to fill the remaining 56 national convention delegate seats at stake during the two-day convention, McDaniel said. The state party is not releasing the names of individuals seeking national delegate seats ahead of the convention, she said. | More than 200 Michigan Republicans have applied to fill the remaining 56 national convention delegate seats at stake during the two-day convention, McDaniel said. The state party is not releasing the names of individuals seeking national delegate seats ahead of the convention, she said. |
| “From what I’m hearing and what I’m seeing on the ground, it seems like the districts are making a concerted effort that the delegates awarded to Trump, Cruz and Kasich are actually going to be supporters of those candidates,” McDaniel said. | “From what I’m hearing and what I’m seeing on the ground, it seems like the districts are making a concerted effort that the delegates awarded to Trump, Cruz and Kasich are actually going to be supporters of those candidates,” McDaniel said. |
| Cruz has successfully outmaneuvered Trump at the level of state politics around the country, where Trump’s small and improvisational campaign has few resources and experience. The Texas senator has done well in Louisiana, for instance, another state where Trump won, and could sweep the delegates chosen at Colorado’s convention. | Cruz has successfully outmaneuvered Trump at the level of state politics around the country, where Trump’s small and improvisational campaign has few resources and experience. The Texas senator has done well in Louisiana, for instance, another state where Trump won, and could sweep the delegates chosen at Colorado’s convention. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.57pm BST | at 3.57pm BST |
| 3.34pm BST | 3.34pm BST |
| 15:34 | 15:34 |
| Ted Cruz raised more than $12.5m in March, his campaign just announced, the most money the senator has raised in a single month for his entire campaign. He’s been on the road longer than any other candidate, announcing his campaign from an evangelical college last March. | Ted Cruz raised more than $12.5m in March, his campaign just announced, the most money the senator has raised in a single month for his entire campaign. He’s been on the road longer than any other candidate, announcing his campaign from an evangelical college last March. |
| From the campaign: | From the campaign: |
| The campaign had almost 240,000 donations with an average donation of $52. To date the total number of dollars raised is more than $78 million with more than 450,00 donors. | The campaign had almost 240,000 donations with an average donation of $52. To date the total number of dollars raised is more than $78 million with more than 450,00 donors. |
| “This is yet another sign that conservatives are coalescing behind our campaign,” said Cruz. | “This is yet another sign that conservatives are coalescing behind our campaign,” said Cruz. |
| “The path to victory in the nomination and winning the general election is by standing up for hardworking men and women of America who have been left behind by Washington. I am confident in this campaign’s ability to bring together all factions of the Republican Party, as we continue to unite Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, and Americans who care about our future.” | “The path to victory in the nomination and winning the general election is by standing up for hardworking men and women of America who have been left behind by Washington. I am confident in this campaign’s ability to bring together all factions of the Republican Party, as we continue to unite Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, and Americans who care about our future.” |
| For perspective, the Democrats’ numbers in March: | For perspective, the Democrats’ numbers in March: |
| A reminder of the scale differences between Dems and Republicans. Sanders raised $44 million, Clinton $29 million. https://t.co/yuAY47YaYy | A reminder of the scale differences between Dems and Republicans. Sanders raised $44 million, Clinton $29 million. https://t.co/yuAY47YaYy |
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| 15:19 | 15:19 |
| Sanders to visit the Vatican | Sanders to visit the Vatican |
| The seat of the Catholic church has invited the man who would be the first Jewish president of the United States to speak about inequality, Bernie Sanders announced on Friday. | The seat of the Catholic church has invited the man who would be the first Jewish president of the United States to speak about inequality, Bernie Sanders announced on Friday. |
| Sanders told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that he was invited by the Vatican to a conference held by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences on 15 April. | Sanders told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that he was invited by the Vatican to a conference held by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences on 15 April. |
| The Democratic senator praised Pope Francis for “injecting a moral consequence into the economy”, and championing inequality as a cause, although Sanders said they disagree on some social issues, including same-sex marriage and contraception. | The Democratic senator praised Pope Francis for “injecting a moral consequence into the economy”, and championing inequality as a cause, although Sanders said they disagree on some social issues, including same-sex marriage and contraception. |
| “I was very moved by the invitation, which just was made public today,” Sanders said. “I am a big big fan of the pope. | “I was very moved by the invitation, which just was made public today,” Sanders said. “I am a big big fan of the pope. |
| “Obviously there are areas where we disagree on, women’s rights or gay rights. But he has played an unbelievable role, an unbelievable role of injecting a moral consequence into the economy.” | “Obviously there are areas where we disagree on, women’s rights or gay rights. But he has played an unbelievable role, an unbelievable role of injecting a moral consequence into the economy.” |
| He then suggested that the pope, who has reinvigorated Catholics around the world with his calls to reform the church and to generosity toward gay people and people of other faiths, is in fact more of a firebrand than the self-declared democratic socialist. | He then suggested that the pope, who has reinvigorated Catholics around the world with his calls to reform the church and to generosity toward gay people and people of other faiths, is in fact more of a firebrand than the self-declared democratic socialist. |
| “People think Bernie Sanders is a radical, read what the pope is writing!” | “People think Bernie Sanders is a radical, read what the pope is writing!” |
| “What he is saying is not only that we have to pay attention to what he calls the dispossessed,” he continued, alluding to unemployed young people and elderly people living in poverty. “He’s talking about the idolatry of money. The worship of money. tHE greed that’s out there. How our whole country is based on more and more and more.” | “What he is saying is not only that we have to pay attention to what he calls the dispossessed,” he continued, alluding to unemployed young people and elderly people living in poverty. “He’s talking about the idolatry of money. The worship of money. tHE greed that’s out there. How our whole country is based on more and more and more.” |
| “He’s trying to inject a sense of morality into how we do economics,” he concluded. “And we need that desperately. | “He’s trying to inject a sense of morality into how we do economics,” he concluded. “And we need that desperately. |
| Sanders will head to the city inside Rome just before the New York primary on 19 April. | Sanders will head to the city inside Rome just before the New York primary on 19 April. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.22pm BST | at 3.22pm BST |
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| 14:31 | 14:31 |
| Hello, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the 2016 battle for the north-east, which has seen the kind of cantankerous chaos for which the east coast is known and loved. | Hello, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the 2016 battle for the north-east, which has seen the kind of cantankerous chaos for which the east coast is known and loved. |
| Ted Cruz was heckled in the Bronx and sang with Jews in Brighton Beach. Protesters flustered Bill Clinton in Philadelphia. Hillary Clinton struggled to swipe on the subway. Bernie Sanders struggled to remember it. And Donald Trump lurked in Trump Tower and promoted an aide who worked for a Kremlin-backed, revolution-ousted Ukrainian president. | Ted Cruz was heckled in the Bronx and sang with Jews in Brighton Beach. Protesters flustered Bill Clinton in Philadelphia. Hillary Clinton struggled to swipe on the subway. Bernie Sanders struggled to remember it. And Donald Trump lurked in Trump Tower and promoted an aide who worked for a Kremlin-backed, revolution-ousted Ukrainian president. |
| John Kasich fought an oversized sandwich. | John Kasich fought an oversized sandwich. |
| The three Republican and two Democratic candidates have entered a newly aggressive stage of the 2016 primary race, just over a week before New York votes with hundreds of delegates at stake. Clinton still leads Sanders by a sizable margin of superdelegates, but he has sharpened his criticisms in front of his home town. | The three Republican and two Democratic candidates have entered a newly aggressive stage of the 2016 primary race, just over a week before New York votes with hundreds of delegates at stake. Clinton still leads Sanders by a sizable margin of superdelegates, but he has sharpened his criticisms in front of his home town. |
| Sanders has also just announced he’ll head to Vatican City next week to speak about social and economic inequality – the favorite theme of both the Jewish senator and Catholicism’s current leader, Pope Francis. | Sanders has also just announced he’ll head to Vatican City next week to speak about social and economic inequality – the favorite theme of both the Jewish senator and Catholicism’s current leader, Pope Francis. |
| Trump also has held his lead in the Republican race, although he suffered a resounding defeat in Wisconsin on Tuesday as anti-Trump Republicans decide to love the one they’re with (Cruz) instead of the ones they wanted (anyone but Trump or Cruz). | Trump also has held his lead in the Republican race, although he suffered a resounding defeat in Wisconsin on Tuesday as anti-Trump Republicans decide to love the one they’re with (Cruz) instead of the ones they wanted (anyone but Trump or Cruz). |
| Cruz’s Wisconsin victory made a contested convention more likely, if not certain, but Kasich remains a thorn in his side – appealing to the same moderate Republicans that the Texas senator has alienated with his ultra-conservative ideas and fire and brimstone style. | Cruz’s Wisconsin victory made a contested convention more likely, if not certain, but Kasich remains a thorn in his side – appealing to the same moderate Republicans that the Texas senator has alienated with his ultra-conservative ideas and fire and brimstone style. |
| But the senator has managed a shadow campaign that is quietly undermining Trump’s lead in pledged delegates. In Colorado, for instance, the Republican convention is swaying to his well-organized team in the backrooms and corridors where party veterans learned the rules. | But the senator has managed a shadow campaign that is quietly undermining Trump’s lead in pledged delegates. In Colorado, for instance, the Republican convention is swaying to his well-organized team in the backrooms and corridors where party veterans learned the rules. |
| On the docket today: | On the docket today: |