memeorandum: Obama has no problem with Larry Wilmore's use of racial slur, aide says (Gregory Korte/USA Today)

9:25 AM ET, May 3, 2016

Top Items:

Frank Newport / Gallup:

Cruz's Image Plummets, Trump's Improves Among Republicans — Ted Cruz — attempting to hold on to the narrowing possibility that he can wrest the GOP nomination away from front-runner Donald Trump — faces a crucial Indiana primary on Tuesday. Meanwhile, and perhaps ominously for Cruz …

Discussion: Washington Times and NBC News

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:

Trump sees a decisive Indiana victory at hand, gears up to take on Clinton — These 10 states will decide whether Trump is the GOP nominee … INDIANAPOLIS — This was supposed to be the pragmatic Midwestern state that would deny Donald Trump the delegates he needs to secure the Republican presidential nomination.

Discussion: ABC News, New York Times, Indianapolis Star, FiveThirtyEight, The Week and Hot Air

Jim Hoft / The Gateway Pundit:

NEWT GINGRICH: ALL 50 STATES IN PLAY If Trump Runs General Like Primary (VIDEO) — NEWT GINGRICH: ALL 50 STATES IN PLAY If Trump Runs General Like Primary- — Newt Gingrich took time out today to discuss the Indiana primary election on Tuesday. — Newt says Indiana will be Senator Cruz's last stand:

Daily Mail:

EXCLUSIVE: Time to quit, Ted!: Trump tells Cruz to get ready to ‘leave the race’ and won't offer the constitutional lawyer a spot on the Supreme Court as a consolation prize because of his ‘tough temperament’ — Donald Trump says it will be time for Ted Cruz to quit the presidential race …

Discussion: AOL and Political Wire

Thomas Young / Gravis:
Current Indiana Polling

Discussion: Politico, Outside the Beltway, Political Insider blog, The Gateway Pundit, New York Magazine, Marist Poll and The Last Refuge

Nolan D. McCaskill / Politico:
Trump accuses Cruz's father of helping JFK's assassin

Discussion: Business Insider and The Week

Nolan D. McCaskill / Politico:
Poll: Trump up to 56 percent nationally

Discussion: The Week

James Nash / Bloomberg:
Cruz Mounts Go-for-Broke Campaign in California

Discussion: Washington Post and ABC News

Jesse Byrnes / The Hill: Trump: 'I'd have to think about' Cruz for Supreme Court

Jessica Hopper / ABC News:
Cruz Urges Voters to ‘Not Give Into Evil’ Leading up to Crucial Indiana Primary

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, The Gateway Pundit, Politico, Washington Post, Mediaite, Associated Press, Hot Air and Right Wing Watch

Sarah K. Burris / Raw Story:
Watch Carly Fiorina do a face-plant off a stage while Ted Cruz ignores her

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Week, Mediaite, The Daily Caller, RedState, Western Journalism and The Last Refuge

John Feehery / The Hill:

Memo to George Will, David Brooks and others: Stop being stupid on Trump — The conservative intelligentsia (not necessarily a contradiction in terms) is being stupid about Donald Trump — And in the process, they are revealing their biases against democracy and the will of the people.

Jordyn Phelps / ABC News:
President Obama Says Donald Trump Is Not Equipped to Be President

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:

There Is A Hole In Bernie Sanders' Strategy For Winning The Nomination — Just how democratic should the Democratic primary be? — Sen. Bernie Sanders' revamped plan for winning the Democratic presidential nomination suffers from an inconsistency that could complicate the case he makes to party insiders and allied groups.

The Hill: Clinton allies fume over Sanders's vow to fight on

abc7.com:

California voters resigned to vote for Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton, SurveyUSA poll shows — Donald Trump won the Republican primaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Connecticut, while Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary in Maryland on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. — KABC

Discussion: Hot Air, The Last Refuge, BizPac Review, Washington Post and Guardian

Rasmussen Reports:
Trump 41%, Clinton 39% — Last week, Rasmussen Reports gave voters …

Discussion: Washington Post, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Pirate's Cove, BizPac Review, U.S. Uncut, CANNONFIRE, Politico, Hot Air, AOL and Western Journalism

Joel B. Pollak / Breitbart:
Shock California Primary Poll: Trump 54, Cruz 20

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, The Last Refuge, Fox News Insider and Guardian

Amy Chozick / New York Times:

Hillary Clinton Hears Wrath of Coal Supporters in West Virginia — WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Hillary Clinton came to campaign in coal country — and she had her feet held to the fire. — As Mrs. Clinton stepped onto the sidewalk on Monday to tour a health and wellness center here …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Atlantic, Politico and Washington Free Beacon

Monica Alba / NBC News:
Hillary Clinton Apologizes to Coal Country Over ‘Out of Business’ Comments

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Hot Air and Political Wire

Gregory Korte / USA Today:

Obama has no problem with Larry Wilmore's use of racial slur, aide says — WASHINGTON — Comedian Larry Wilmore's use of a racial slur in comedy remarks about President Obama on Saturday has drawn controversy from civil rights activists — but not from Obama himself.

Discussion: The Atlantic, Salon, New York Magazine, Liberty Unyielding and Independent Journal …

Hunter Walker / Yahoo:
Heidi Cruz responds to people who call her husband the Zodiac Killer

Discussion: CNNMoney, Washington Post, Guardian, The Daily Caller, The Atlantic, Talking Points Memo, Towleroad, Mediaite and The Week

Todd Starnes / Fox News:

‘Make America Mexico Again’: Why Americans are fed up with illegals — There is something a bit unsettling about watching violent, foul-mouthed protesters waving the Mexican flag on American soil. — Over the weekend, Hispanic children lined the streets in Fort Wayne, Indiana - hurling filthy insults at Donald Trump supporters.

Jesse Byrnes / The Hill:

Trump rips Clinton's ‘bad judgment’ — 's judgment on Monday, foreshadowing an attack line that he could use in a general election showdown. — Trump argued that while suggesting Clinton isn't qualified to be president is a “big stretch,” it's fair to say the former secretary of State “suffers from bad judgment.”

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Jim Hoft / The Gateway Pundit:

Rafael Cruz: “I Implore Every Member of the Body of Christ to Vote According to the Word of God” (VIDEO) — Pastor Rafael Cruz, father of Ted Cruz, asked members of the Body of Christ to vote Cruz: … The Washington Examiner reported: … The post Rafael Cruz: “I Implore Every Member …

Discussion: Salon and Washington Examiner

Sarah Whitten / CNBC:

Survey says: 34 percent of Bay Area residents are ready to leave — Residents of the California's Bay Area are eyeing the exits. — Some 34 percent of San Francisco-area residents are considering leaving because of high housing costs and traffic, according to a survey by the Bay Area Council.

Amanda Terkel / The Huffington Post:

Jesse Watters On Ambushing Me: Bill O'Reilly ‘Told Me To Get Her’ — In 2009, Watters followed and harassed me while I was on vacation. — Senior Political Reporter, The Huffington Post — WASHINGTON — Jesse Watters, Fox News' ambush man, appeared on “The O'Reilly Factor” …

Discussion: Politico, Mediaite, TVNewser and Talking Points Memo

Jeremy Pelzer / Plain Dealer:

PG Sittenfeld endorses ex-rival Ted Strickland in video, acknowledges he “whupped mah butt” — COLUMBUS, Ohio—Cincinnati City Councilman PG Sittenfeld on Monday offered a video endorsement for Ted Strickland, whom he acknowledged “whupped mah butt” in the March Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

Discussion: Associated Press

Reid J. Epstein / Wall Street Journal:

Delegate Hunt Fuels Tussle on Little-Known Republican Committee — Donald Trump's attempt to seize some control over course of GOP convention creates showdown over internal post — Donald Trump's first attempt to seize some control over the Republican National Committee and the course …