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Lindsey Graham won't support Trump or Clinton – campaign live Lindsey Graham won't support Trump or Clinton – campaign live
(35 minutes later)
8.38pm BST
20:38
Former president George W. Bush’s top White House staffer has declared that the notion of billionaire Donald Trump taking over his former boss’ position scares him.
“When Donald Trump entered the race, I didn’t think he had a chance,” former White House chief of staff Andy Card told CBS This Morning.
“When he started to gain traction, I became a cynic. I wasn’t sure he could make it. I was saying, ‘sane people will recognize this is not going to happen.’ Well, it happened. He scared me.”
“I want him to really pay attention the responsibility of being president,” Card said, saying that Trump has to assuage his fears that his kneejerk campaign style wouldn’t translate into a similar pattern of behavior as the nation’s commander in chief.
“I take the vote for president very, very seriously. Right now, I will probably write in a name,” Card said. “I want to find out what it will be like, Donald Trump, when you have an impossibly tough decision where there is no measure of popularity.”
Card is far from the first official from the second Bush administration to withhold support from the presumptive Republican nominee - starting with his former boss, who has said that he will sit this campaign out.
8.23pm BST
20:23
The late Rob Ford, former mayor of Toronto, has endorsed Donald Trump’s race for the White House, despite the notable handicap of being a Canadian citizen who passed away in late March.
Tweeting from the account for the first time since Ford’s death, someone posted from the tabloid fixture’s Twitter account a message for American voters:
Happy that Rob's phrase of 'Stop the Gravy Train' is playing a part on who is going to be the next president of the USA. (1/2)
(2/2) It's a real tribute & honour to Rob. Go Trump Go! https://t.co/t1GDx4gQpS
7.57pm BST7.57pm BST
19:5719:57
Cheney supports TrumpCheney supports Trump
Former vice president Dick Cheney has told CNN that he has always supported the GOP nominee and will do so this year as well.Former vice president Dick Cheney has told CNN that he has always supported the GOP nominee and will do so this year as well.
Trump has accused Cheney and former president George W Bush of lying about Saddam Hussein’s nonexistent weapons of mass destruction to force a war.Trump has accused Cheney and former president George W Bush of lying about Saddam Hussein’s nonexistent weapons of mass destruction to force a war.
Confronted with those remarks on Fox News in February, Cheney called Trump a “liberal Democrat”:Confronted with those remarks on Fox News in February, Cheney called Trump a “liberal Democrat”:
He sounds like a liberal Democrat to me, Bret. He’s wrong, and he’s I think, deliberately promoting those views in order to advance his political interests.He sounds like a liberal Democrat to me, Bret. He’s wrong, and he’s I think, deliberately promoting those views in order to advance his political interests.
7.45pm BST7.45pm BST
19:4519:45
Kerry slams Trump in graduation addressKerry slams Trump in graduation address
Secretary of State John Kerry told college graduates on Friday that their diversity is “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare”, the AP reports:Secretary of State John Kerry told college graduates on Friday that their diversity is “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare”, the AP reports:
Speaking to an estimated audience of 25,000 at Northeastern University’s commencement, Kerry drew heavy applause when he noted the many races and religions among the graduates, and then directed a jab at the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.Speaking to an estimated audience of 25,000 at Northeastern University’s commencement, Kerry drew heavy applause when he noted the many races and religions among the graduates, and then directed a jab at the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
“You really do look spectacular,” Kerry said. “I want you to just look around you. Classmates from every race, religion, gender, shape, size. Eighty-five countries represented and dozens of languages spoken. You are the most diverse class in Northeastern’s history. In other words, you are Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.”“You really do look spectacular,” Kerry said. “I want you to just look around you. Classmates from every race, religion, gender, shape, size. Eighty-five countries represented and dozens of languages spoken. You are the most diverse class in Northeastern’s history. In other words, you are Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.”
7.44pm BST7.44pm BST
19:4419:44
Graham calls Trump 'demographic death'Graham calls Trump 'demographic death'
“Eating a taco is probably not going to fix the problem we have with Hispanics. I think embracing Donald Trump is embracing demographic death.”“Eating a taco is probably not going to fix the problem we have with Hispanics. I think embracing Donald Trump is embracing demographic death.”
Lindsey Graham on Trump: "Eating a taco" won't fix "the problem we have with Hispanics" https://t.co/YHOL0vE0s8 https://t.co/i0zUMC9jFiLindsey Graham on Trump: "Eating a taco" won't fix "the problem we have with Hispanics" https://t.co/YHOL0vE0s8 https://t.co/i0zUMC9jFi
7.34pm BST7.34pm BST
19:3419:34
Ryan and Trump to meetRyan and Trump to meet
On Thursday. High noon, presumably, with hats and chaps.On Thursday. High noon, presumably, with hats and chaps.
I've invited @realDonaldTrump for a meeting with GOP leaders next week, and I look forward to the discussion.I've invited @realDonaldTrump for a meeting with GOP leaders next week, and I look forward to the discussion.
APNewsAlert: Speaker Paul Ryan to meet Thursday with Donald Trump to discuss "Republican principles and ideas"APNewsAlert: Speaker Paul Ryan to meet Thursday with Donald Trump to discuss "Republican principles and ideas"
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.37pm BSTat 7.37pm BST
7.29pm BST7.29pm BST
19:2919:29
Nebraska shows up for Trump. Via the Omaha World-Herald:Nebraska shows up for Trump. Via the Omaha World-Herald:
The line so far. Hundreds of people here. pic.twitter.com/wRUhxQHMwiThe line so far. Hundreds of people here. pic.twitter.com/wRUhxQHMwi
7.25pm BST7.25pm BST
19:2519:25
Adelson: Trump 'good for Israel'Adelson: Trump 'good for Israel'
Casino magnate and political donor Sheldon Adelson told the New York Times that he is supporting much smaller casino magnate and political donor Donald Trump for president.Casino magnate and political donor Sheldon Adelson told the New York Times that he is supporting much smaller casino magnate and political donor Donald Trump for president.
“Yes, I’m a Republican, he’s a Republican,” Adelson said. “He’s our nominee. Whoever the nominee would turn out to be, any one of the 17 — he was one of the 17. He won fair and square.”“Yes, I’m a Republican, he’s a Republican,” Adelson said. “He’s our nominee. Whoever the nominee would turn out to be, any one of the 17 — he was one of the 17. He won fair and square.”
Trump, Adelson said separately, “will be good for Israel.”Trump, Adelson said separately, “will be good for Israel.”
Read further.Read further.
7.14pm BST7.14pm BST
19:1419:14
I guess he’s pretending to dig coal?I guess he’s pretending to dig coal?
This gif pic.twitter.com/UuxRjrwjlLThis gif pic.twitter.com/UuxRjrwjlL
7.05pm BST7.05pm BST
19:0519:05
Lindsey Graham not budging on TrumpLindsey Graham not budging on Trump
South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who didn’t get far in his presidential bid, tweets that he won’t support Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in November.South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who didn’t get far in his presidential bid, tweets that he won’t support Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in November.
Graham was reelected in 2014 and may sense little political risk in so vocally objecting to the candidate that South Carolina Republicans picked 32.5-22.5 over Marco Rubio – and that was back when everyone was still in the race.Graham was reelected in 2014 and may sense little political risk in so vocally objecting to the candidate that South Carolina Republicans picked 32.5-22.5 over Marco Rubio – and that was back when everyone was still in the race.
“It’s hard to believe that in a nation of more than 300 million Americans Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be our choices for President,” Graham’s tweet storm begins:“It’s hard to believe that in a nation of more than 300 million Americans Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be our choices for President,” Graham’s tweet storm begins:
As for me, I absolutely will NOT support Hillary Clinton for President. (2)As for me, I absolutely will NOT support Hillary Clinton for President. (2)
Hillary Clinton represents the third term of Barack Obama & our nation cannot afford to continue those failed policies at home or abroad.(3)Hillary Clinton represents the third term of Barack Obama & our nation cannot afford to continue those failed policies at home or abroad.(3)
I also cannot in good conscience support Donald Trump because I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative....(4)I also cannot in good conscience support Donald Trump because I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative....(4)
.....do not believe he is a reliable GOP conservative nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as Commander in Chief. (5).....do not believe he is a reliable GOP conservative nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as Commander in Chief. (5)
I will enthusiastically support Republicans for other offices in South Carolina and throughout the country. (6)I will enthusiastically support Republicans for other offices in South Carolina and throughout the country. (6)
I will focus my time, energy and effort on raising resources and advocating for our Republican majorities in the House and Senate. (7)I will focus my time, energy and effort on raising resources and advocating for our Republican majorities in the House and Senate. (7)
Finally, I do not plan to attend the Republican convention in Cleveland this summer. (8)Finally, I do not plan to attend the Republican convention in Cleveland this summer. (8)
After the election, regardless of who wins, I’ll do everything I can to help new President deal w/ the many challenges facing our nation.(9)After the election, regardless of who wins, I’ll do everything I can to help new President deal w/ the many challenges facing our nation.(9)
6.57pm BST6.57pm BST
18:5718:57
Outside a Walmart Supercenter at the heart of a senator’s online manifesto and not far from the geographic center of the US, 79-year-old Duane Kiekow was adjusting to the reality that Donald Trump is his party’s nominee, writes David Steen Martin for the Guardian:Outside a Walmart Supercenter at the heart of a senator’s online manifesto and not far from the geographic center of the US, 79-year-old Duane Kiekow was adjusting to the reality that Donald Trump is his party’s nominee, writes David Steen Martin for the Guardian:
“I’m grudgingly coming around to the fact that it appears to be Hillary and Trump. I’ll take Trump,” said Kiekow, a registered Republican. [...]“I’m grudgingly coming around to the fact that it appears to be Hillary and Trump. I’ll take Trump,” said Kiekow, a registered Republican. [...]
Outside that Walmart on a day when Nebraska senator Ben Sasse’s online manifesto was all the rage on talk radio, Kiekow and other voters in this solidly Republican swath of the US grappled with the presidential options ahead of them. Most agreed that their choices didn’t reflect their interests.Outside that Walmart on a day when Nebraska senator Ben Sasse’s online manifesto was all the rage on talk radio, Kiekow and other voters in this solidly Republican swath of the US grappled with the presidential options ahead of them. Most agreed that their choices didn’t reflect their interests.
“I say anyone but Trump. I don’t care who wins as long as it’s not Trump,” said Pam Eix, a nurse in this tiny Nebraska city set amid farmland.“I say anyone but Trump. I don’t care who wins as long as it’s not Trump,” said Pam Eix, a nurse in this tiny Nebraska city set amid farmland.
Suzie Markey, a retired medical underwriter from Fremont, said she didn’t know how she was going to vote.Suzie Markey, a retired medical underwriter from Fremont, said she didn’t know how she was going to vote.
“People don’t know what to do. I’m not the only one. I cannot vote for Donald Trump. It’s a dilemma,” Markey said. She said she was no fan of Hillary Clintonbut Trump’s crass language and personal insults did not appear presidential.“People don’t know what to do. I’m not the only one. I cannot vote for Donald Trump. It’s a dilemma,” Markey said. She said she was no fan of Hillary Clintonbut Trump’s crass language and personal insults did not appear presidential.
“If my kids had acted that way, they’d have been grounded,” she said.“If my kids had acted that way, they’d have been grounded,” she said.
Read the full piece here:Read the full piece here:
Related: In Nebraska's key Walmart parking lot, voters dissatisfied with election choiceRelated: In Nebraska's key Walmart parking lot, voters dissatisfied with election choice
Nebraska votes Tuesday. Trump has an Omaha event scheduled for Friday afternoon.Nebraska votes Tuesday. Trump has an Omaha event scheduled for Friday afternoon.
6.49pm BST
18:49
Labor secretary: a recovery Republicans would be proud of
Jana Kasperkevic
In an interview with the Guardian, Labor Secretary Tom Perez said that Friday’s jobs report – 160,000 jobs were added in April, 40,000 less than expected – was a “solid” one.
Solid enough that Republicans would happily switch places with Democrats and take credit for the recovery, given the chance, Perez asserted.
FACT: American businesses have added 14.6 million jobs over 6 straight years of growth → https://t.co/4Vc0cDsSdZ pic.twitter.com/YwvIVGi0NF
“I appreciate the candor of Mitch McConnell and others who said our goal is to make this president a one-term president,” Perez said. “The challenge that they have right now is that if you administered truth serum to the Republican leadership in Congress and the head of the Republican National Committee and said, ‘Hey if I were to tell you that the unemployment rate would be 5% heading into an election cycle that you were in charge of and that it would have been 74 months in a row of private sector job growth and 5m open jobs’, they would’ve said, ‘Sign me up’. Because those are pretty good numbers.
“In fact, Mitt Romney said, ‘If you elect me in 2012, I’ll have the unemployment down to 6% by the end of my first term’. Regrettably the only response that other side has had [to the economic recovery] is to form an Eeyore caucus of truth deniers.”
Perez conceded that the economic recovery had a long way to go. He said it could be accelerated if Republicans in Congress agreed to raising the federal minimum wage and enacted paid family leave.
6.16pm BST
18:16
Obama: 'this is not a reality show'
In Barack Obama’s turn in the briefing room this afternoon, the taco bowl question did not follow directly on the president’s remark that “this is not a reality show.” Nevertheless...
Greatest moments in the WH press briefing room: pic.twitter.com/46fu6TLIp0
6.04pm BST
18:04
Who are the Democratic superdelegates?
Mona Chalabi
At first glance, with 13 primary races still to go on the Democratic side, it might look like Bernie Sanders is still in contention of winning the nomination - he is only trailing Hillary Clinton by 321 pledged delegates.
But one reason why Sanders’s chances are so slim – apart from the difficulty of making up ground quickly in the Democrats’ system of proportional delegate distribution – is that Clinton has an added lead of 483 super delegates, unbound Democrats who are free to change their minds about who they vote for at the national convention in July.
In 2008, to the detriment of Clinton, most super delegates stuck to the candidate that voters in their state selected. If the reverse proves true this time, Sanders could still have a chance. But there’s bad news for Bernie.
This week, DNC data analyzed by Pew shows that only 1 in 4 super delegates are undecided - probably not enough to get Sanders to the finish line of the 2,383 delegates needed for nomination (just 6% of the super delegates said they were committed to Sanders and the rest were supporting Clinton).
There’s also a little demographic information about these individuals that have so much sway in deciding the final nominee for the party. Of the 713 super delegates, 193 are US representatives, 47 are Senators, 21 are Governors while most of the rest are party members. Overall, 62% of super delegates are white and 58% are men.
Updated
at 7.15pm BST
5.42pm BST
17:42
That’s it for Obama. Press secretary Josh Earnest takes the lectern.
5.37pm BST
17:37
Obama is asked about Trump’s taco bowl / Cinco de Mayo / “I love Hispanics” tweet.
“I have no thoughts on Mr Trump’s tweets. As a general rule I don’t pay attention to Mr Trump’s tweets,” the president says.
He’s asked what he thinks Democratic voters should think about the ongoing investigation of Clinton’s emails.
Obama says he does not want to “meddle in the primaries” that have yet to play out.
“Let the process play out,” he says. “We’ll know soon enough, it’s not going to be that much longer.”
5.35pm BST
17:35
Obama: 'Republican women voters are going to have to decide'
The president is asked about Ryan’s hesitancy about Trump.
I think you have to ask Speaker Ryan what the implications of his comments are. There is no doubt that there is a debate that’s taking place within the Republican party about who they are and what they represent.
Then the president muses on the Republican identity crisis: “Their standard bearer at the moment is Donald Trump and I think that not just Republican officials but Republican voters are” going to have to decide.
Republican women voters are going to have to decide, is that the guy who I feel comfortable with, and representing me, and what I care about?
He also says that stewards of finance will have to ask whether Trump’s budgets work.
As far as Democrats, I think we run on what we’re for, not just what we’re against.
Updated
at 5.41pm BST
5.33pm BST
17:33
Obama on Sanders: 'let the process play out'
Obama is taking questions in the White House briefing room. He’s running down a list of things Clinton and Sanders agree on.
If you look at 95% of the issues, there’s strong agreement there. You don’t see the kinds of strong divisions between the two Democratic candidates that remain and what you saw in some of the Republican debates.
5.02pm BST
17:02
Clinton going after Bush donors
Hillary Clinton’s campaign has been reaching out to Bush family donors to try to win their support with the pitch that she’s closer to their values than Trump is, reports Ben White in Politico:
Top targets for the Clinton team include people like Woody Johnson, Jeb Bush’s former finance chair and the owner of the New York Jets.
One person close to Clinton said supporters of the former secretary of state drew up a list of Wall Street donors who supported Jeb Bush and other unsuccessful Republican candidates months ago but wanted to wait until Trump locked down the nomination before beginning to make the calls.
“When you think about it there is no downside to making these calls, including for Hillary herself to make then,” this person said. “They may say no but they will talk to her for half an hour about their view of the world and probably say nice things when asked about her publicly. And they might stay away from Trump.”
Read the full piece here.
4.48pm BST
16:48
Obama to speak on economy
The White House has announced a previously unscheduled address by the president on the economy, to begin at noon ET – in just more than 10 minutes.
“The US economy showed further signs of a slowdown on Friday as the US Department of Labor announced just 160,000 new jobs had been created in April, 40,000 fewer than had been expected,” wrote the Guardian’s Jana Kasperkevic. “The US unemployment rate remained steady at 5%.”
Related: US economy adds just 160,000 jobs in April – further sign of a slowdown
4.45pm BST
16:45
What’s behind Ryan’s hesitancy about Trump? The Washington Examiner quotes an unnamed “person familiar” as saying it’s the whole bigotry + violence thing:
Person familiar says look at occasions Ryan publicly rebuked Trump: 1) Muslim ban, 2) Duke/KKK, 3) violence at rallies.
Below is video Ryan condemning Trump – not by name – over his slowness to disclaim former KKK leader David Duke’s enthusiastic endorsement.
“If a person wants to be a nominee of the Republican party, there can be no evasion and no games,” Ryan said. “They must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry. This party does not prey on people’s prejudices. We appeal to their highest ideals.”
Then he says “I hope this is the last time I have to speak out on this race” LOL.