Indiana Governor Mike Pence was under tremendous pressure from the Moonbats, barking spiders, and ju-ju bone throwers within what’s left of the #NeverTrump movement.  Examples: HERE (Erick Erickson) – and also HERE (Little Ben)
In addition, Governor Pence was fielding calls from the professionally republican DC based consultant committees on behalf of those desperate voices who are professionally republican and addicted to financially driven graft and scheme.
While stuck between a Rove and a Hard Face, Governor Pence needed to choose between which faction would do less damage to his political career.  If Pence didn’t support the moonbat’s choice the ire of the hashtag community and screaming radio hosts would ensue.
So I’ll shut up now, and you can just hear –in his own words– what he did:

Candidate Donald Trump is delivering the keynote speech today at the California Republican Party Convention’s Kickoff Lunch Banquet in San Francisco, CA.  Mr. Trump is scheduled to speak at 12:00pm PDT / 3:00pm EDT
Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream #1 – Alternate Live Stream #2

Angry Mexican and South American Latino activists took to the streets last night to promote the culture of violence and anger that exists within their community.  Proudly waving the Mexican flag the anti-American domestic terrorists created mayhem.

Under the guise of an anti-Trump rally, the Latino terrorists destroyed a police car, attacked bystanders, and injured some of the attendees from the Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa earlier in the evening.
17 people were arrested and most of the cultural Marxists within the mainstream media were quick to shift blame toward Donald Trump for the bloodshed.
LA TIMES:  […]  “I’m protesting because I want equal rights for everybody, and I want peaceful protest,” said 19-year-old Daniel Lujan, one of hundreds in a crowd that appeared to be mostly Latinos in their late teens and 20s.
“I knew this was going to happen,” Lujan added. “It was going to be a riot. He deserves what he gets.” (more…)

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Presidential Race and/or any of the candidates therein.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

From the outset, and particularly since the ridiculous “Never Trump” campaign began, we have outlined the most damaging aspect to Senator Ted Cruz’s presidential bid is his continued visibility.  The reasoning is simple: the more people see and hear Cruz,  the more the average electorate are turned off by Cruz.  He’s just not a likeable man.

A CNN article today points out the internal polling within Indiana is following this consistent pattern:

[…] Cruz allies and people close to the campaign describe a budding sense of gloom, with internal polls diving as Trump mounted even stronger than expected showings in his native northeast. In Indiana, which Cruz backers once believed they were favored to win after his strong defeat of Trump in Wisconsin, Cruz’s numbers have fallen precipitously: Once leading, Cruz now trails in the state by eight to 10 points, according to a person who has seen the numbers, with Trump over the 40% mark. Cruz’s campaign did not respond when asked about those figures. (link)

Indiana is the absolute last chance for Senator Ted Cruz and the entire coalition behind the #NeverTrump movement.  Like Florida in March, tens of millions are now being spent to psychologically target the larger electorate in Indiana with a constant barrage of negative attack ads. (more…)

Candidate Donald Trump is holding a campaign rally in Costa Mesa California tonight at 7:00pm Local / 10:00pm Eastern.  The event is being held at the Orange County Fair & Event Center – The Pacific Amphitheater:
Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream #1 – Alternate Live Stream #2

The Donald Trump Rally in Costa Mesa California doesn’t begin until 7:00pm Local / 10:00pm Eastern tonight.  We have a scheduled launch of the live-stream set up for 9:00pm Eastern.
However, there are a lot of really great pictures flowing in from CTH Trumpeters’ on the ground in California – so this is just a preview thread as the venue opened about 30 minutes ago:

Here's the line to get into Trump's Southern California rally today pic.twitter.com/Ww0fqoH8Vl

— Jim Dalrymple II (@Dalrymple) April 28, 2016

(more…)

Wow, talk about affirming a solidifying public opinion.

Despite official campaign documents outlining their combined effort, Senator Ted Cruz now tries to say there was no alliance between Team Cruz and Team Kasich.

“John Kasich made the decision in his own political self interest to withdraw from Indiana and compete elsewhere. And that was a perfectly reasonable decision,” Cruz said.

A gobsmacked Team Kasich responds:
https://twitter.com/JWGOP/status/725715485526884352
(more…)

[Update – Full Poll Data Added] The very first public poll of Oregon voters ( Poll pdf added ) shows Donald Trump with a substantial lead over Ted Cruz and John Kasich.
Political followers will note, Oregon was one of the states Ted Cruz said he would concede to John Kasich (New Mexico the other) if Kasich pulled out of Indiana as part of their collective Stop Trump strategy.  However, Team Kasich is now calling Cruz a liar as part of that agreement doesn’t seem to fit with their actual campaign discussions.

[Via OPB.Org] […] The poll by the Portland-based Hoffman Research Group shows 43 percent support Trump. Twenty-six percent favor Cruz and 17 percent back John Kasich. It is the first public poll of the Republican presidential race in Oregon this year.  (more…)