memeorandum: First on CNN: Ted Cruz could have dropped out if he lost Texas, chief strategist says (Theodore Schleifer/CNN)

8:20 AM ET, March 3, 2016

Top Items:

Justice Dept. grants immunity to staffer who set up Clinton email server — The Justice Department has granted immunity to the former State Department staffer who worked on Hillary Rodham Clinton's private email server, a sign the FBI investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing is progressing.

New York Times:

As Presidential Campaign Unfolds, So Do Inquiries Into Clinton's Emails — WASHINGTON — As Hillary Clinton moves toward the Democratic presidential nomination, she faces legal hurdles from her use of a private computer server as secretary of state that could jar her campaign's momentum in the months ahead.

Discussion: Power Line

Frank Pallotta / CNNMoney:
ESPN ‘addressing’ Curt Schilling's Hillary Clinton slam

Discussion: Mediaite and CBS New York

Michelle Conlin / Reuters:

Exclusive: Koch brothers will not use funds to try to block Trump nomination — The Koch brothers, the most powerful conservative mega donors in the United States, will not use their $400 million political arsenal to try to block Republican front-runner Donald Trump's path to the presidential nomination …

Discussion: The Week and CNN

Daniel Lippman / Politico:
Romney rips Trump as a ‘phony’ and a ‘fraud’

Discussion: New York Times, Independent Journal Review, Florida Politics, Yahoo, Mashable, The Week and Hot Air

Brian Beutler / New Republic: Donald Trump's Nomination Will Have Real, Lasting Upsides

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Trump rivals limp into crucial debate

Discussion: New York Times

Bloomberg Business:
Romney to Lay Out Case Against Trump in Speech Thursday

Discussion: Politico, BostonGlobe.com, Hot Air, U.S. News, The Other McCain, Mediaite, The Last Tradition, USA Today, Tampa Bay Times, Infowars, The Last Refuge, Florida Politics, Washington Post, Slantpoint and The Daily Caller

Ben White / Politico: Wall Street readies big Trump assault

War on the Rocks:

Open Letter on Donald Trump from GOP National Security Leaders — We the undersigned, members of the Republican national security community, represent a broad spectrum of opinion on America's role in the world and what is necessary to keep us safe and prosperous.

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Washington Post, Slantpoint, Infowars and The Week

Michael Crowley / Politico:

Neocons declare war on Trump — Donald Trump calls the Iraq War a lie-fueled fiasco, admires Vladimir Putin and says he would be a “neutral” arbiter between Israel and the Palestinians. When it comes to America's global role he asks, “Why are we always at the forefront of everything?”

Discussion: Antiwar.com Original and Infowars

John Hinderaker / Power Line:

To Flee Donald Trump's America, You Will Need the Right Documents — The New York Daily News is a viciously left-wing newspaper that carries a special grudge against Donald Trump. It therefore offers its readers a complete guide to fleeing President Trump's America.

Discussion: Deadspin, The Week and Talking Points Memo

Nick Gehring / bencarson.com:

Official Statement by Dr. Ben Carson — I have decided not to attend the Fox News GOP Presidential Debate tomorrow night in Detroit. Even though I will not be in my hometown of Detroit on Thursday, I remain deeply committed to my home nation, America. I do not see a political path forward …

Theodore Schleifer / CNN:
First on CNN: Ted Cruz could have dropped out if he lost Texas, chief strategist says

Discussion: The Hugh Hewitt ShowThe …, New York Magazine and Hot Air

Robert Costa / Washington Post:
Ben Carson tells supporters he sees no ‘path forward’ for presidential campaign

Trip Gabriel / New York Times:
Ben Carson, Seeing No ‘Path Forward,’ Signals End to Candidacy

Discussion: Washington Post, BloombergView.com, alicublog, FiveThirtyEight and Outside the Beltway

CNN:
Ben Carson doesn't see ‘a political path forward’

Discussion: Politicus USA, whorunsGov, Allen B. West, Power Line, Western Journalism, CBS 4 and Fox 59

Daniel Lippman / Politico:

N.M. Gov. Susana Martinez to endorse Rubio — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez on Thursday says she will endorse Marco Rubio for the GOP nomination, giving the Florida senator a badly needed piece of good news during a rough period of his campaign. — “Marco Rubio is a compelling leader …

Discussion: Talk Media News, New York Times, Florida Politics and Associated Press

miamiherald:

In Florida primary: Marco Rubio best candidate to unite GOP — Marco Rubio needs Florida win to stay in the race — Senator is best choice to unify fractured GOP His ability to reach across the aisle an asset — As the pivotal Florida primary on March 15 draws near …

Discussion: TownhallReview.com, Politico, Western Journalism and Outside the Beltway

Ed O'Keefe / Washington Post:
Can Marco Rubio save his campaign, and his career, in Florida?

Discussion: Florida Politics and The Last Tradition

Bloomberg Business:

Clinton's Best Day Is Behind Her, Sanders Adviser Says — Vermont senator trails Clinton by more than 600 delegates — Democrats increasingly turn focus to general election race — The Democratic presidential race entered a new phase following Super Tuesday, with Bernie Sanders vowing …

Discussion: Algemeiner.com

Annie Karni / Politico:
How Clinton hit the reset button on 2016

Discussion: New York Post

Nicholas Confessore / New York Times:
Beneath Hillary Clinton's Super Tuesday Wins, Signs of Turnout Trouble

Discussion: Politico

Gabriel Sherman / New York Magazine:

More Bad News for Marco Rubio: He Just Lost the Support of Fox News — “We can't do the Rubio thing anymore,” Roger Ailes told a network host. — In his role as the donor class's darling, Marco Rubio has enjoyed support from the Republican's media arm, Fox News.

Discussion: Politico, Political Wire, The Hill, The Week, The Right Scoop, Talking Points Memo and Raw Story

Andrew Harnik / Los Angeles Times:

Editorial Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the White and Gold Ballroom at The Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. on March 1. — Donald Trump is not fit to be president of the United States.

Discussion: Algemeiner.com, The Week and Western Journalism

John Bresnahan / Politico:
Ryan and McConnell's plan for Donald Trump

Discussion: CNN, Daily Kos, Washington Post, U.S. News and Washington Monthly

Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Clinton, Trump victories foreshadow a nasty, contentious fall campaign

Discussion: Politicus USA, Vox and Western Journalism

Howard Sheppard / WPMT FOX43:

86-year-old woman accidentally hangs herself with medical alert necklace — CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. - An 86-year-old Cumberland County woman is dead after she trips and is accidentally hanged by her medical alert necklace. It happened on February 15. — County Coroner Charles Hall …

Discussion: WGN-TV and KTLA

Julie Hirschfeld Davis / New York Times:

White House Said to Be Vetting Appeals Court Judge for Supreme Court Seat — WASHINGTON — The White House is vetting Jane L. Kelly, a career public defender turned federal appellate judge, as a potential nominee for the Supreme Court, as President Obama closes in on a decision that could reshape …

Discussion: CNN, Politicus USA, New York Magazine, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos, The Week, KWQC-TV and Business Insider

Matthew Boyle / Breitbart:

Exclusive Audio — Rubio Campaign Manager Plots Brokered Convention In Manhattan Donor Meeting To Take Nomination From Trump — Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is plotting to take the Republican nomination away from Donald Trump using surreptitious tactics at a so-called “brokered convention,” …

Discussion: Infowars, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Independent Journal Review and FiveThirtyEight

KFOR-TV:

Police: Former CEO of Chesapeake Aubrey McClendon killed in car wreck — OKLAHOMA CITY - Police officers confirm that a man killed in a car wreck early Wednesday morning is the former CEO of Chesapeake Aubrey McClendon — On Wednesday, firefighters were called to a car wreck on Midwest Blvd., between Memorial and 122nd St.

Discussion: CNBC, The Daily Caller, NBC News, fox13now.com and Q13 FOX News

Jacob Pramuk / CNBC:
Police: McClendon crashed traveling at ‘high rate of speed’

Discussion: Politico, The Week, Raw Story, The Atlantic, U.S. Department of Justice, New York Times, news9.com KWTV and Boone Pickens

A.B. Stoddard / The Hill:

Too little, too late on Trump — We can all see that members of the GOP establishment are in dire need of a stiff drink. But they sure do look like rookies showing up after last call. — After Donald Trump — dominated polling for the party's presidential nomination in at least 49 states …

Cristina Marcos / The Hill:

House Dem blasts NBC over Melissa Harris-Perry departure … Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) took to the House floor on Wednesday to suggest NBC has a racial diversity problem in the wake of host Melissa Harris-Perry's departure from MSNBC. — Gutiérrez said Harris-Perry's exit …

Discussion: Washington Post and Mediaite

Michael Barbaro / New York Times:

Seeing Chris Christie With Donald Trump, New Jersey and Internet Cringe — What, you might ask, could be worse than a thoroughly failed presidential candidate returning home as a lame-duck governor to a $10 billion budget deficit and a recalcitrant legislature? — Chris Christie is finding out.

Discussion: Political Wire, New York Magazine, Daily Kos, Walid Shoebat, New Jersey News …, Asbury Park Press, Florida Politics, MY CENTRAL JERSEY and Vox

Alexandra Petri / Washington Post:
Chris Christie's wordless screaming

Discussion: The Resurgent, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Hit & Run, Gawker, Vox and neo-neocon

Alexander Burns / New York Times:

Anti-Trump Republicans Call for a Third-Party Option — Spurred by Donald J. Trump's mounting victories, a small but influential — and growing — group of conservative leaders are calling for a third-party option to spare voters a wrenching general election choice between a Republican …