1. Trump taking his time
While Donald Trump has not acknowledged polls showing him losing to Hillary Clinton by as much as double digits, he did admit for the first time that he appeared to be down a few points.
Summary
“I’m four down in one poll, three and a half in another that just came out, and I haven’t started yet,” Trump told the New York Times. “And I have tremendous Republican support.”
Trump: ‘I’ll save second amendment’
2. GOP seeks plan B
At least two GOP factions – “Anybody but Trump” and “Delegates Unbound” – were trying to figure out how not to nominate Trump for president, and many Republicans have stopped taking questions about Trump.
Trump surrogate denies being Trump surrogate
3. Ryan to members: you be you
House speaker Paul Ryan said Republicans should follow their hearts on Trump. “The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that’s contrary to their conscience. Of course I wouldn’t do that,” Ryan told NBC.
Summary
I get that this is a very strange situation. He’s a very unique nominee. But I feel as a responsibility institutionally as the speaker of the House that I should not be leading some chasm in the middle of our party.
– House speaker Paul Ryan
4. ‘Don’t screw this up’
Senator Elizabeth Warren paid a visit to Clinton headquarters in Brooklyn on Friday to give staffers a pep talk. One NBC News source summarized her message as “Don’t screw this up”.
5. Sanders sets sights on Trump
Bernie Sanders (still running) told supporters Thursday that “the major political task that together we face in the next five months is to make certain that Donald Trump is defeated and defeated badly”.
Bernie Sanders: from upstart to revolution
6. Johnson off pot
Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor, told USA Today he hasn’t used marijuana in “about seven weeks”.
‘I’m not casting judgment’
Meet the presidential nominee who last used #weed seven weeks ago: Gary Johnson https://t.co/KKETklTOWc #libertarianhttps://t.co/FdLw86LhUG
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 16, 2016
... and another thing:
Make sure you call your dad this weekend. #FathersDay pic.twitter.com/zm1c2U2Zkt
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 17, 2016
