Sanders, Clinton Scrap In Michigan
Sanders presses Clinton on Wall Street and trade in Michigan debate. NYT: "He portrayed Mrs. Clinton as an unapologetic champion of free trade for much of her career, in hopes of hurting her with Rust Belt Democrats ... Mr. Sanders also attacked Mrs. Clinton’s support of the federal Export-Import Bank, the credit agency that antigovernment populists on both sides have called an instrument of 'corporate welfare,'..."
Hillary tries to get to Bernie's left on auto bailout. W. Post: "'I voted to save the auto industry,' she said. 'He voted against the money that ended up saving the auto industry.' ... What Clinton said is technically true, but it glosses over a lot of important nuance ... both supported the idea of an auto bailout ... But Sanders was vehemently against the larger $700 billion bailout to prop up the banks."
Michigan primary Tuesday looms large. Politico: "A win in a big industrial state could upend the race, [Sanders' aides] say ...[But he] has trailed by double-digits in each of the nine public polls taken since the beginning of February ... While there are signs of tightening as Sanders floods the airwaves with ads, Clinton’s big margins among African-Americans elsewhere raise questions about whether the senator can break through ..."
Bernie wins 3 of 4 states over weekend, but Hillary wins more delegates. NBC: "...out of the four contests, Clinton won more overall delegates, 67-63 -- due to Clinton's 37-12 delegate win in Louisiana ... among pledged delegates ... Clinton has a 199-delegate lead..."
Can Trump Compete In Rust Belt?
Michigan a testing ground for anti-Trump strategy. Politico: "...there’s a growing suspicion that an unpredictable Trump candidacy focused on economic protectionism and opposition to trade deals could potentially put blue states like Michigan [in play.] In a state that Sanders has long identified as a promising target for his message, the former secretary of state [is focusing] on enforcement of trade deals and solutions to their problems, rather than blame..."
"Donald Trump Needs 7 of 10 White Guys" says David Bernstein in Politico Magazine: "The math suggests Trump would need a whopping 70 percent of white male voters to cast their ballots for him. That’s a larger percentage than Republicans have ever won before — more than the GOP won in the landslide victories of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and far more than they won during the racially polarized elections of Barack Obama."
Trump could put House in play. American Prospect's Paul Waldman: "If the #neverTrump movement doesn't lose steam and lots of prominent Republicans distance themselves from their party's nominee, it could mean Republican voters staying home in large numbers, which would make it possible for Democrats to win back the [30] seats they need to take control."
