Sanders Meets With Obama Today
Obama hopes to move Sanders towards endorsement. NYT: "President Obama will use an Oval Office meeting with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on Thursday morning to delicately nudge the losing Democratic presidential hopeful toward a full embrace of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy..."
Sanders supporters warn against nudging. Politico: "'The president is not Senator Sanders’ boss. We’ve got to get this straight here,' said Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator who’s been traveling the country on behalf of the campaign ... 'In some ways, even though [the president’s] numbers are good, and good with the Democratic base, he overestimates,' said a Democratic strategist aligned with Sanders. 'Much of the activist Bernie movement—I think he overestimates his strength with those people.'"
Senate Dems counsel patience. Politico: "With Sanders on his way to Washington on Thursday, his colleagues in the Senate are softening their once-sharp rhetoric toward the independent senator ... they want to give him room to coalesce his movement behind Clinton — on his own terms."
Clinton reaches out to Sanders supporters in W. Post interview: "...I’m going to do whatever I can to make that happen ... We believe in a lot of the same goals like universal health care coverage. We know that we both want to raise the minimum wage contrary to Trump ... we’re going to always try to look to see what we can do to improve the [nomination] process..."
They both won, says American Prospect's Harold Meyerson: "Hillary Clinton has won the Democratic nomination for president, while Bernie Sanders has won the party’s battle of ideas ... He clearly has transformed both the Democrats and the substance of American liberalism. The challenge now facing the party, at its forthcoming convention and beyond, is how to build on both victories."
Clinton and Trump Prepare Dueling Speeches
Clinton will deliver speech next week on Trumponomics. WSJ: "It will be modeled after a foreign-policy speech she gave last week ... 'While he may have some catchy sound bites, his statements on the economy are dangerously incoherent,' she said ... 'They are deeply misguided, and they reflect an individual who is temperamentally unfit to manage the American economy.'"
Trump will deliver speech Monday attacking Clinton. Politico: "Donald Trump’s team is hunkering down to draft the charge sheet the presumptive GOP nominee will unveil against Hillary Clinton on Monday [which] unnerves some in the establishment. 'It needs to be credible. He can’t give a "four Pinocchios" tin-foil hat speech,' said Bruce Haynes, a GOP strategist..."
Warren Back In The Fray
Sen. Warren to deliver fresh broadside. Politico: "Elizabeth Warren is sharply escalating her attacks on Donald Trump, dubbing the presumptive nominee a 'loud, nasty, thin-skinned fraud' who is in league with House and Senate GOP leaders Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell ... In a speech before the American Constitution Society, Warren will argue that Trump's attacks on District Judge Gonzalo Curiel are just an extension of the congressional GOP's playbook."
Sen. Harry Reid wants VP Warren, reports Washington Post: "Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) believes Elizabeth Warren should be the running mate of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, according to four Senate sources familiar with Reid’s thinking ... he has grown confident the Democrats could hold onto Warren’s Senate seat..."
Trump Short On Cash
Trump can't raise coin. Politico: "Donald Trump’s top financiers are slashing their fundraising expectations and warning the GOP’s presumptive nominee could find himself massively out-gunned by Hillary Clinton."
New analysis suggests electorate older and whiter than commonly believed. NYT: "New analysis shows that millions more white, older working-class voters went to the polls in 2012 than was found by exit polls on Election Day ... new data from the census, voter registration files, polls and the finalized results tells a subtly different story with potential consequences for the 2016 election."
Budget Battle Resumes On Hill
Senate Dems warn Republicans on spending bill. The Hill:: "Senate Democrats are signaling they won’t support a push to increase defense spending unless Republicans agree to bolster non-defense money. ... 'One of the most fundamental is if you make a commitment, you should keep it,' Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) said Wednesday. 'Republicans are demanding billions more for the Pentagon but refuse to give an extra penny for the middle class.'"
Speaker Ryan tries to contain conservatives on spending bills. The Hill: "House GOP leaders on Wednesday announced that they will begin restricting contentious amendments on spending bills ... the abrupt shift is ... striking fear in some more conservative members, who believe leadership could block Republican-led amendments considered risky votes in an election year."
Senate Dems roll out policy agenda. NYT: "One measure would require organizations spending money in elections, including 'super PACs,' to disclose donors who give $10,000 or more during an election cycle ... The Democrats would also seek a permanent ban on lobbying by former members of Congress, a major change from the current two-year prohibition."
Ryan offers national security agenda. W. Post: "Where Trump has proposed building a wall along the southern border and getting Mexico to pay for it, Ryan’s blueprint stresses that 'we need more than just fencing' ... notably, Ryan’s proposal stops short of advocating the next president undo the Iran deal..."
