Cruz sees no alternatives

NO ALTERNATIVES: The buzz among Republicans is that no one — DONALD TRUMP or otherwise — is likely to get the delegates they need to secure the GOP nomination on the first ballot. And with that door left open, party insiders are wondering if a fresh face — say PAUL RYAN — might be their best bet. http://politi.co/23aAWpN,

This is not thinking that helps TED CRUZ, and as POLITICO’s Katie Glueck reports, Cruz put the party on alert Monday over the possibility of pushing a white horse candidate at the Republican National Convention.


He warned Republicans against drafting an alternative nominee at this summer’s national convention, hoping to shoot down the possibility even as speculation mounts that the party establishment is looking for another option.

“It ain’t going to happen,” the Texas senator insisted to reporters here before speaking at a town hall with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly. “If it did, the people would quite rightly revolt. If Washington said, we had elections in 50 states but we, the dealmakers, don’t care what the people voted for, we have someone else who’s going to go along and get along and keep the cronyism going, the voters would naturally say, ‘To heck with you, we’re staying home.’”

Cruz continued, “Are some folks in Washington foolish enough to do that anyway? Probably. But they can’t do it. If over 80 percent of delegates are Cruz delegates [or Donald] Trump delegates, under what universe do a thousand Trump delegates or a thousand Cruz delegates go vote for some uber-Washington lobbyist who hasn’t been on the ballot? That’s simply not going to happen.”

Read more at: http://politi.co/1RJiSvz

Just another manic Monday (oh, whoa). http://bit.ly/1xtfMax. And here’s your 2016 Blast. Henry C. Jackson (@henrycjjackson) is here to guide you through today’s campaign news. Send your tips, complaints and hottest hot takes to: [email protected]. And good luck to ‘Nova and UNC tonight.

TRAIL MIX: In today’s campaign news, Republicans ponder their options. HILLARY CLINTON took in less cash than BERNIE SANDERS last month, but Clinton says she’s the team player. Sanders talks pot in Wisconsin. Trump talks South Carolina in Wisconsin. Cruz talks Trump in Wisconsin. JOHN KASICH talks about Trump too — but not in Wisconsin. Republicans grapple with (another) divisive fight ahead, and Democrats try to get their angles right.

THE DAILY CLINTON

LESS TO BERN: POLITICO’s Nick Gass reports HILLARY CLINTON took in $29.5 million in March, compared to $44 million raised by BERNIE SANDERS. http://politi.co/1S4lrrh

SO, A BACKDRAFT? ABC reports HILLARY CLINTON went sorta negative on BERNIE SANDERS claiming that Democrats feeling the Bern aren’t actually broadening the coalition. "There's no indication there's any interest there," the Democratic presidential candidate responded when asked by ABC News' George Stephanopoulos if she thinks the Vermont senator would help the Senate go back to the Democrats. "I am committed to electing Democrats. I'm committed to raising money.” http://abcn.ws/1qkFewQ

LATIN INFLUENCE: Reuters reports both HILLARY CLINTON and BERNIE SANDERS have promised to appoint Latino leaders to cabinet posts. http://reut.rs/1Ybnrmh

NOT SO ON WISCONSIN: POLITICO’s Nick Gass reports HILLARY CLINTON strategist Joel Benenson played down the importance of a potential BERNIE SANDERS victory in Wisconsin ahead of tomorrow’s vote. “I don’t think he can narrow the gap materially in pledged delegates in Wisconsin," Benenson said. http://politi.co/1N5eRzy

THE PROGRESSIVE RESISTANCE

POT PUSH: ABC 13 has BERNIE SANDERS reiterating his support for decriminalizing marijuana during a campaign stop in Madison, Wis., today. http://abc13.co/1SMaZbc

RUFF OUT THERE: Deadline reports BERNIE SANDERS has recruited none-other-than the Hulk himself, actor Mark Ruffalo, to stump for him in a campaign ad. http://bit.ly/1RAnebJ For good measure, Sanders is also sampling Diplo’s “Revolution” in another spot: http://bit.ly/1N5ftFb

NUCLEAR OPTION: MSNBC has BERNIE SANDERS calling for the closure of a controversial nuclear power plant outside of New York City. "I am very concerned that the Indian Power nuclear power reactor is more than ever before a catastrophe waiting to happen," Sanders said. http://nbcnews.to/25H9Mc9

TRUMP ON THE STUMP

BIG TALK: DONALD TRUMP declared he would win Wisconsin like he did in South Carolina — and said that negative attacks from TED CRUZ would be the reason why. He also managed to ding home state Gov. SCOTT WALKER, who has endorsed Cruz, POLITICO’s Nick Gass reports. “I have a feeling the same thing’s gonna happen here. Because Walker has not done a great job," Trump said. "He has not done a good job. By the way, he’s been OK. You’re average. I hate to say it. You look around your surrounding states, you know what you are? Average!” http://politi.co/1N5hYrj

VARIED INTERESTS: The New York Times reports that DONALD TRUMP’s trip to Washington, D.C., last week included meetings with an array of interest groups, “including a veteran lobbyist and the chief executive of a major airline trade organization.” http://nyti.ms/1RX2ywI

ANGER MANAGEMENT: Washington Post has a leaked campaign memo from DONALD TRUMP’s command center that doesn’t seem to contain a lot of strategic guidance — just urging staffers to push through negative media coverage. “The media themselves couldn’t wait to label the week, ‘THE WORST WEEK EVER,” writes author Barry Bennett, a senior aide. http://wapo.st/1W55vem

PERSONAL PROBLEMS: POLITICO’s Katie Glueck reports TED CRUZ took an almost tepid shot at DONALD TRUMP’s personal life, declaring “I don’t think it’s a state secret that Donald’s personal life hasn’t been immaculate,” and leaving it at that. http://politi.co/25HdO4a

BLAST NOTES: We’ll refer to this approach as taking the high-low road.

SCOTTY LOVES TRUMPY: Through the looking glass, and beyond: ‘80s TV Star Scott Baio tweeting to DONALD TRUMP about how he asked to have the name “Trump” put on his Starbucks cup. Yup. http://bit.ly/1N5iqFM

TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

KAS AND POINT: CBS catches a new TED CRUZ ad in Wisconsin that is aimed at JOHN KASICH. The ad suggests “Kasich offered favors and tax breaks to an Ohio-based steel company whose board he served on before becoming governor.” http://cbsn.ws/25HbtGr

HIGH FIDELITY: ABC reports TED CRUZ dismissed all talk of affairs. “I have always been faithful to my wife,” he said. http://abcn.ws/1W6tda7

KASICH’S CASE

TRUMP MAGNET: JOHN KASICH responded to DONALD TRUMP’s call for him to leave the 2016 race by boasting that not only would he stay in, but he will lure plenty of DONALD TRUMP voters to his side, POLITICO’s Nolan D. McCaskill reports. “I’ve got news for him: I’m gonna get a heck of a lot of his voters, OK? That’s what’s gonna happen.” http://politi.co/1ovUHsd

GREEK VOYAGE: 13WHAM reports JOHN KASICH will trudge to Greece — Greece, N.Y., that is — for a campaign event this weekend: http://bit.ly/1RUG24h

SURVEYING THE 2016 LANDSCAPE

MORE CONVENTIONAL PROBLEMS: Forget the nominee for a second. POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt reports the issue of gay marriage is set to provide another fractious subplot at this summer’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland: http://politi.co/1W4LXqC

FORWARD PLANNING: POLITICO’s Lauren French reports top Democrats are skipping ahead — and already angling for plum posts and influence in the HILLARY CLINTON administration. Did we expect anything less? http://politi.co/1RGfMII

THE DAILY NUMBER

15 million. That’s how many more dollars BERNIE SANDERS raised in March than HILLARY CLINTON.

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