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2:55 PM ET, March 8, 2016

Top Items:

Trump Hits a Wall Within the GOP; His Critics Back a Convention Fight (POLL)

Discussion: U.S. Uncut, Washington Free Beacon, Balloon Juice, The Resurgent, The Week and Political Wire

David Brooks / New York Times:

It's Not Too Late! — It's 2 a.m. The bar is closing. Republicans have had a series of strong and nasty Trump cocktails. Suddenly Ted Cruz is beginning to look kind of attractive. At least he's sort of predictable, and he doesn't talk about his sexual organs in presidential debates!

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, NBC News and Balloon Juice

Fallon Silcox / mynews13.com:

Exclusive Florida Decides Poll: Trump, Clinton lead Florida's presidential primaries — If Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were the candidates in November, Clinton would lose a close contest to Trump, according to our exclusive poll. — What will the outcome of the presidential primary elections be?

Discussion: EveryJoe, The Gateway Pundit and Florida Politics

Patrick Reis / Politico:

Is Trump peaking? We'll find out today — On Tuesday, Donald Trump will discover whether his weekend struggles were a speed bump — or the first signs of larger troubles ahead. — If the polls are to believed, Trump is in for a dominant day, with blowouts in Michigan and Mississippi to be complemented by another win in Idaho.

Discussion: idahopoliticsweekly.com, Washington Post and Washington Times

Dan Balz / Washington Post:

Poll: Trump leads GOP race nationally but with weaker hold on the party … The state of the 2016 race — Donald Trump continues to lead his rivals nationally in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination, but his hold on the GOP electorate has weakened since the primary season began …

Discussion: NBC News, Hot Air, New York Post, Talking Points Memo, Politicus USA, Politico, Weasel Zippers, Florida Politics, Washington Times, The Week and BloombergView.com

Chicago Tribune:

Trump leads splintered Republican primary field in Illinois — Republican presidential candidates, from left, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., businessman Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich at a debate at on March 3, 2016, in Detroit. — Privacy Policy

Discussion: Washington Post, NBC News, Politico and Washington Times

Morning Consult:

Romney Speech Had Minimal Effect on Trump Support, Poll Shows — A new Morning Consult poll finds that Mitt Romney's speech last week condemning Donald Trump apparently had very little effect on the GOP front-runner. — Thirty-one percent of GOP voters said they were more likely to vote for Trump …

Discussion: Breitbart, Infowars, The Daily Caller, The Bob and Chez Show, Hot Air and Political Wire

Plain Dealer:

Mitt Romney tapes Michigan robocall for John Kasich — FILE - In this April 27, 2012 file photo, Republican then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney, right, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich participate in a roundtable discussion in Westerville, Ohio. (Jae C. Hong, The Associated Press)

Discussion: Daily Kos, Washington Post, Talking Points Memo and The Week

Stuart Rothenberg / Roll Call:

Dem Senate Takeover Probable, If Cruz or Trump Nominee — With Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz seemingly positioned to fight it out for the Republican presidential nomination, Democrats are now poised to take over the Senate in November. — The two Republicans still in the race …

Discussion: Politicus USA

CBS News:

Donald Trump falsely claims he “employs many people” at Honolulu hotel — Donald Trump on Monday asked the people of Hawaii to vote for him in the March 8 GOP caucuses - claiming he “employs many people” at his Honolulu hotel.

Discussion: Power Line, National Review and The Right Scoop

Eliza Collins / Politico:

Rubio campaign accuses Cruz of ‘dirty tricks’ in Hawaii — Marco Rubio's campaign is accusing Ted Cruz's campaign of “using a bogus story from CNN to spread false rumors” that the Florida senator is dropping out of the race. — “Senator Cruz is up to his dirty tricks again spreading false rumors and lies.

Discussion: RedState, New York Magazine, ABC News, The Gateway Pundit and The Daily Caller

Eliza Collins / Politico:
Cruz knocks Trump for treating his supporters ‘like subjects of a king’

Discussion: Political Wire

Jonathan Martin / New York Times:
Mitt Romney Records Phone Message for Marco Rubio's Campaign

Discussion: Fox News, Talking Points Memo, MSNBC, Washington Post, Business Insider, The Week, New York Magazine, Politico and Reuters

Daniel Strauss / Politico:
Cruz wins Senate Conservatives Fund straw poll

Discussion: RedState, Daily Kos and National Review

New York Times: What We're Watching as 4 States Vote and Both Parties Court Michigan

Washington Post:
Seeing Trump as vulnerable, GOP elites now eye a contested convention

Discussion: Politico, Vox, USA Today, New York Times, CNN, No More Mister Nice Blog, Fox News Insider, The Resurgent, New York Magazine, Daily Kos, Towleroad, Talking Points Memo, The Gateway Pundit, Florida Politics, Washington Times, Business Insider and The Daily Caller

Michelle Goldberg / Slate:
Ready to Hold Their Noses

Discussion: Salon and Hullabaloo

Nick Corasaniti / New York Times:

Fox News Forum May Signal Thaw Between Democrats and Network — DETROIT — Rebuffed yet again in coaxing Hillary Clinton onto Fox News, executives at the network had an outside-the-box idea last month that would have made primary debate history: a face-off between Senator Bernie Sanders …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Liberty Unyielding, Mediaite and The Week

Adam Howard / MSNBC:
‘Ghetto’ gaffe highlights Bernie Sanders campaign's struggle with race

Discussion: The Atlantic, NBC News, theGrio, Washington Post and The Daily Caller

Brian Flood / The Wrap:
Fox News' Bret Baier: Some Republicans Could Back Hillary Clinton Over Donald Trump

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Mediaite and Hot Air

Heidi M Przybyla / USA Today:
Michigan could be pivotal for Sanders to mount comeback

Discussion: CBS Detroit, Political Insider blog, The Week, USA TODAY College and 12NewsNow.Com

Travis Gettys / Raw Story:

Conservative lawyer says Scalia might never be replaced: 'There's nothing magical' about nine justices — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — A conservative legal activist is promoting the idea that the U.S. Senate can hold off indefinitely in naming a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Discussion: addictinginfo.org

Ted Barrett / CNN:
Supreme Court nominee would be a ‘piñata,’ Cornyn says

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Washington Post and Daily Kos

Peter Montgomery / Right Wing Watch:
Federalist Society VP Says Senate Could Ignore SCOTUS Nominees Indefinitely

Discussion: liberalamerica.org

CNN:

White House ‘surprised’ to learn Netanyahu turned down meeting — 2015: Obama meets with his least favorite ally — Washington (CNN)The White House said Monday it was “surprised” to learn through press reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declined an invitation …

Discussion: Haaretz, Washington Post, Foreign Policy and Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Reuters:
Israel's Netanyahu declines offer to meet with Obama: White House

Discussion: Hot Air, Weasel Zippers and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Julie Hirschfeld Davis / New York Times:
Netanyahu Calls Off Obama Visit, and Fingers Point

Discussion: The Atlantic, Associated Press, The Times of Israel, Mother Jones and New York Magazine, more at Mediagazer »

Craig Torres / Bloomberg Business:

Fed Governor Donates to Clinton Even as Bank Guards Independence — $750 in donations from November to January was within rules — Issue of Fed governor giving to a candidate is ‘one of optics’ — At a time when Federal Reserve officials are making the case that monetary policy needs …

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Rami Amichay / Reuters:

Palestinian stabs 10 people, killing one, on Tel Aviv boardwalk — Israeli security forces search the area where, according to Israeli police spokesperson, at least 10 ... Israeli police search the spot where, according to Israeli police spokesperson, at least 10 Israelis ...

Steven Mufson / Washington Post:

Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton to attend Nancy Reagan's funeral Friday … First lady Michelle Obama and Democratic presidential hopeful and former first lady Hillary Clinton will attend Nancy Reagan's funeral in California on Friday, a sign of the enduring power of President Ronald Reagan's legacy 27 years after he left office.

Discussion: The Daily Caller