Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethos…. Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh, who left the Senate in 2010 to become a lobbyist, is mounting a comeback bid to replace his onetime predecessor Republican Sen. Dan Coats, who left a post-Senate career as a lobbyist to run for his old seat. In a joint statement, everyone involved confirmed that time is a flat circle, adding “LOL nothing matters.”
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‘16 from 30,000
We’re truly in full veepstakes mode now, with Donald Trump seeming to chase new ideas like those Pokemon Go people running around looking for Bulbasaurs or whatever. (Let’s be honest, we had to Google to make that joke.) Over the weekend, he floated retired general Michael Flynn, who’s open to the job but got in hot water after suggesting that he favors abortion rights, a position he appeared to abruptly reverse today. There was also a brief Stanley McChrystal float, although he’s reportedly not interested in the job. All of NBC’s reporting still points to three top-tier candidates: Gingrich, Christie and Pence. Whether or not he comes up with a real surprise or eventually hews to the original shortlist we’ve generally known about for the last couple of weeks, the last-minute flurry of floated ideas shows just how much Trump’s sense of showmanship is playing into his decision-making.
POPPING ON NBC POLITICS
- Trump’s vetting lawyer met with Christie over the weekend, NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports.
- Bernie Sanders will campaign with Hillary Clinton tomorrow and an endorsement may be on the way, NBC’s Alex Seitz-Wald reports.
- Donald Trump’s plans for the convention are still a mystery despite his claim last week that the speaking slots are totally filled, NBC’s Jane Timm reports.
- Tim Kaine said on MSNBC, "In my gut right now, I kinda feel like I'm going to stay in the Senate."
- Democrats this weekend advanced what is easily their most liberal platform ever as representatives of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton strove toward unity during a sometimes contentious party meeting, NBC’s Alex Seitz-Wald reports.
- NBC’s Mark Murray fact checks Trump’s comments on crime after Trump’s speech on law and order.
- NBC’s Vaughn Hillyard and one of us(!) profile Mike Pence. Another of us(!!) looked at Michael Flynn.
- And from First Read: Why Trump has to pick a conservative running mate.
FOR THE RECORD…
“I think people are going to really feel betrayed.”
In a conversation with MSNBC, Jeb Bush predicted Donald Trump’s signature issues like building a wall and banning Muslims will never happen.
