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| Romney clinches GOP nomination amid Trump 'birther' talk - live | Romney clinches GOP nomination amid Trump 'birther' talk - live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 12.04pm: A cracking observation from the New Yorker on Donald Trump: | |
| There are some people who, having been born on third base, stand there believing they hit a triple. Donald Trump was born on third base and thinks he invented baseball. | |
| (My colleagues and I are trying to think of a British equivalent for the "born on third base" putdown – but we can't.) | |
| 11.45pm: In the Texas Senate showdown, the Tea Party and Sarah Palin have another chance to scalp an establishment Republican – if Ted Cruz can overcome the cards stacked against him in July's run-off with David Dewhurst. | |
| The pollsters at PPP think Cruz has a slim but significant chance: | |
| I think it's going to end up being a lot closer than that though, and think Cruz even has a modest chance to win. It's all about turnout and enthusiasm. We found last week that 49% of Cruz's supporters were 'very excited' about voting for him. Only 27% of Dewhurst's expressed the same sentiment. Among that most enthusiastic group of voters Cruz led Dewhurst 42-37 for yesterday's primary, and trailed only 48-46 in a hypothetical runoff contest. It's hard to say what turnout will be in July but assuming it's lower than it was yesterday that will work to Cruz's advantage due to the passion of his supporters. | |
| 11.15am: By the way, the Romney campaign really did release Mitt Romney's certificate of live birth last night. That part was real, as is the image. | 11.15am: By the way, the Romney campaign really did release Mitt Romney's certificate of live birth last night. That part was real, as is the image. |
| Here's how Reuters covered it: | Here's how Reuters covered it: |
| Finally, there is definitive proof: The presidential candidate was born in the United States, and his father was not. | Finally, there is definitive proof: The presidential candidate was born in the United States, and his father was not. |
| See what they've done there? Hilarious: "Yes, Republican Mitt Romney appears eligible to be president, according to a copy of Romney's birth certificate released to Reuters by his campaign." | See what they've done there? Hilarious: "Yes, Republican Mitt Romney appears eligible to be president, according to a copy of Romney's birth certificate released to Reuters by his campaign." |
| 10.51am: There is a serious point about Mitt Romney's awkward dance around Donald Trump's birther nonsense: | 10.51am: There is a serious point about Mitt Romney's awkward dance around Donald Trump's birther nonsense: |
| If Mitt Romney doesn't have the courage to stand up to Donald Trump, how will he stand up to Putin, the Iranians, or the Chinese? | If Mitt Romney doesn't have the courage to stand up to Donald Trump, how will he stand up to Putin, the Iranians, or the Chinese? |
| Summed up here eloquently by Doug Mataconis. | Summed up here eloquently by Doug Mataconis. |
| 10.36am: Last night – under the cover of darkness – the Mitt Romney campaign published what it claims to be a birth certificate for "Willard Mitt bin Romney". | 10.36am: Last night – under the cover of darkness – the Mitt Romney campaign published what it claims to be a birth certificate for "Willard Mitt bin Romney". |
| As we can plainly see, this is obviously a forgery, and Donald Trump and Sheriff Joe Arpaio need to get right on it. Here are the five key signs: | As we can plainly see, this is obviously a forgery, and Donald Trump and Sheriff Joe Arpaio need to get right on it. Here are the five key signs: |
| 1. This is clearly not a birth certificate at all. It's something called a "Certificate of Live Birth" – which suggests the obvious question: where is the birth certificate? | 1. This is clearly not a birth certificate at all. It's something called a "Certificate of Live Birth" – which suggests the obvious question: where is the birth certificate? |
| 2. This is only the "short form" of the certificate and that is plainly inadequate. Why won't Mitt Romney publish his "long form" birth certificate? What does he have to hide? | 2. This is only the "short form" of the certificate and that is plainly inadequate. Why won't Mitt Romney publish his "long form" birth certificate? What does he have to hide? |
| 3. Notice that the "date of birth" is listed as March 12, 1947 – but the so-called "certificate" was filed on March 17, 1947. How can Mitt Romney explain this mysterious five day gap during which time he may (or may not) have been smuggled in from Canada? – the foreign country bordering on Michigan. | 3. Notice that the "date of birth" is listed as March 12, 1947 – but the so-called "certificate" was filed on March 17, 1947. How can Mitt Romney explain this mysterious five day gap during which time he may (or may not) have been smuggled in from Canada? – the foreign country bordering on Michigan. |
| 4. Using my computer I note that this "certificate" image is labeled: "Adobe Photoshop JPEG file". Clear signs of a forgery? | 4. Using my computer I note that this "certificate" image is labeled: "Adobe Photoshop JPEG file". Clear signs of a forgery? |
| 5. "Father's birthplace: Mexico". Come on, do I have to paint you a picture for this one? | 5. "Father's birthplace: Mexico". Come on, do I have to paint you a picture for this one? |
| To be clear, none of these obvious errors, omissions and forgery are evidence that Mitt Romney was born abroad and has engaged in a decades-long conspiracy to conceal his foreign birth – we are merely asking questions. And putting words in italics for sinister effect. That's all. Over to you, Donald. | To be clear, none of these obvious errors, omissions and forgery are evidence that Mitt Romney was born abroad and has engaged in a decades-long conspiracy to conceal his foreign birth – we are merely asking questions. And putting words in italics for sinister effect. That's all. Over to you, Donald. |
| 10.17am: While Mitt Romney's win in Texas was entirely predictable, the US Senate primary result certainly was not. | 10.17am: While Mitt Romney's win in Texas was entirely predictable, the US Senate primary result certainly was not. |
| David Dewhurst received 45% of the GOP vote, forcing him into a run-off with Ted Cruz, who received just 34% – but who now has the momentum given that Dewhurst was confidently expected to get more than 50% and so win the nomination outright. | David Dewhurst received 45% of the GOP vote, forcing him into a run-off with Ted Cruz, who received just 34% – but who now has the momentum given that Dewhurst was confidently expected to get more than 50% and so win the nomination outright. |
| Here's RedState's Erick Erickson explaining how the Republican party in Texas finds itself shaken up today: | Here's RedState's Erick Erickson explaining how the Republican party in Texas finds itself shaken up today: |
| It is hard to overstate just how extraordinary Ted Cruz's underdog entry into the Texas runoff is and just how the odds are still stacked against him unless conservatives rally quickly with lots of money. | It is hard to overstate just how extraordinary Ted Cruz's underdog entry into the Texas runoff is and just how the odds are still stacked against him unless conservatives rally quickly with lots of money. |
| David Dewhurst has been Lt Governor of Texas for more than a decade. He has massive name ID throughout the state. Ted Cruz started this race with a three or four percent showing in polling. | David Dewhurst has been Lt Governor of Texas for more than a decade. He has massive name ID throughout the state. Ted Cruz started this race with a three or four percent showing in polling. |
| More so, Dewhurst is a multimillionaire who can write large sums of money to fund his campaign. Ted Cruz cannot. Texas has several of the most expensive media markets in the country and the state is too large to go door to door across the state. | More so, Dewhurst is a multimillionaire who can write large sums of money to fund his campaign. Ted Cruz cannot. Texas has several of the most expensive media markets in the country and the state is too large to go door to door across the state. |
| 10am: Mitt Romney has mathematically clinched the Republican presidential nomination, after winning enough delegates in last night's Texas primary – but his triumph was overshadowed by the continuing presence of his most high profile supporter, Donald Trump. | 10am: Mitt Romney has mathematically clinched the Republican presidential nomination, after winning enough delegates in last night's Texas primary – but his triumph was overshadowed by the continuing presence of his most high profile supporter, Donald Trump. |
| Romney has even gone so far as to release a version of his own birth certificate – perhaps a deliberate pander to the likes of Trump and the underground nation of "birthers" who dispute that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, despite all evidence to the contrary. | Romney has even gone so far as to release a version of his own birth certificate – perhaps a deliberate pander to the likes of Trump and the underground nation of "birthers" who dispute that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, despite all evidence to the contrary. |
| Texas, meanwhile, had an exciting primary night of its own, with insurgent Tea Party-backed candidate Ted Cruz managing to force the heavily favoured David Dewhurst into a run-off for the GOP's US Senate nomination. | Texas, meanwhile, had an exciting primary night of its own, with insurgent Tea Party-backed candidate Ted Cruz managing to force the heavily favoured David Dewhurst into a run-off for the GOP's US Senate nomination. |
| Here's a brief summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: | Here's a brief summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: |
| • Mitt Romney clinched the Republican presidential nomination with a predictable win in Texas's primary while raising money with real estate tycoon, Donald Trump, in Las Vegas. Trump has played a public part by continually insisting president Obama was born in Kenya. Trump managed to avoid broaching the "birther" subject at Romney's fundraising event on Tuesday night, but earlier in the day he clashed with CNN host Wolf Blitzer, who challenged Trump's widely-discredited theory. Referring to the proof of Obama's birth in the United States, his Hawaiian birth certificate, Trump said "A lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate." Blitzer informed Trump he was "beginning to sound a little ridiculous," to which Trump replied "I think you sound ridiculous." | • Mitt Romney clinched the Republican presidential nomination with a predictable win in Texas's primary while raising money with real estate tycoon, Donald Trump, in Las Vegas. Trump has played a public part by continually insisting president Obama was born in Kenya. Trump managed to avoid broaching the "birther" subject at Romney's fundraising event on Tuesday night, but earlier in the day he clashed with CNN host Wolf Blitzer, who challenged Trump's widely-discredited theory. Referring to the proof of Obama's birth in the United States, his Hawaiian birth certificate, Trump said "A lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate." Blitzer informed Trump he was "beginning to sound a little ridiculous," to which Trump replied "I think you sound ridiculous." |
| • The other hitch for Romney came when the GOP's 2012 presidential candidate launched a new iPhone app aimed at supporters. Only one problem, the application spelled America as "Amercia", to widespread hilarity. | • The other hitch for Romney came when the GOP's 2012 presidential candidate launched a new iPhone app aimed at supporters. Only one problem, the application spelled America as "Amercia", to widespread hilarity. |
| • Despite being one-upped on his big day, Romney has managed to launch a new line of attack on the Obama administration, arguing the president has squandered taxpayer dollars on companies such as Solyndra, which declared bankruptcy last year. The company had received $528m in federal loans. The strategy is seen as counter to the president's relentless attacks on Romney's record at the private equity firm, Bain Capital, where he oversaw the firing of scores of employees. | • Despite being one-upped on his big day, Romney has managed to launch a new line of attack on the Obama administration, arguing the president has squandered taxpayer dollars on companies such as Solyndra, which declared bankruptcy last year. The company had received $528m in federal loans. The strategy is seen as counter to the president's relentless attacks on Romney's record at the private equity firm, Bain Capital, where he oversaw the firing of scores of employees. |
| • Romney also ventured into foreign policy yesterday, issuing a statement in support of the mass expulsion of Syrian diplomats by the US and other countries to protest the weekend massacre of dozens of civilians, including children. Romney contended that president Obama "lack of leadership" had created a "policy of paralysis" which has resulted in the death of an estimated 10,000 Syrians. Romney believes the United States should "arm the opposition so they can defend themselves" against the regime of president Bashar al Assad. The White House, meanwhile, supports convincing Syria's allies, Russia and China, to pressure Assad into stopping the violence and believes supporting Syrian opposition forces with weapons would lead to more violence. | • Romney also ventured into foreign policy yesterday, issuing a statement in support of the mass expulsion of Syrian diplomats by the US and other countries to protest the weekend massacre of dozens of civilians, including children. Romney contended that president Obama "lack of leadership" had created a "policy of paralysis" which has resulted in the death of an estimated 10,000 Syrians. Romney believes the United States should "arm the opposition so they can defend themselves" against the regime of president Bashar al Assad. The White House, meanwhile, supports convincing Syria's allies, Russia and China, to pressure Assad into stopping the violence and believes supporting Syrian opposition forces with weapons would lead to more violence. |