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The Lid: Why #NeverTrump May Never Win

Without a sole opposition candidate, the #NeverTrump crowd lacks a cohesive strategy, which could very well be the reason it ultimately falters.
Image: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Kasich and former Republican presidential nominee Romney arrive at campaign rally in North Canton, Ohio
Former Republican U.S. presidential nominee Mitt Romney (R) arrives with current Republican presidential candidate John Kasich (L) on the Kasich campaign bus for a rally inside the MAPS Air Museum in North Canton, Ohio March 14, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron Bernstein AARON P. BERNSTEIN / Reuters

Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethos…President Barack Obama and Raul Castro capped off their historic press conference in Cuba today with a half-hearted arm raise that could have only been more awkward if Obama had done that middle school thing when you hold your palm out for a high five and then run your hand through your hair instead.

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‘16 from 30,000

One week after Mitt Romney extolled the virtues of Ohio Gov. John Kasich and his “real track record,” the former presidential candidate is blasting a vote for Kasich as wasted opportunity. The difference? The Ohio primary, and Kasich’s chance to rob Trump of precious delegates, is in the history books, while tomorrow’s contest in Utah offers Ted Cruz a chance to deprive Trump again. Romney is now recording robocalls for Cruz in Utah, calling him “the only Republican candidate who can defeat Donald Trump.” Now, it’s hardly the first time that a politician has said nice things about someone only to treat them like a bad prom date, but the speed with which the turnaround happened is a little - er - jarring. It’s not that the move doesn’t make sense strategically for Romney, whose sole goal is to keep Trump from getting 1,237 delegates before July. But the contrasting messages is another data point that underscores what we’ve written about the anti-Trump movement before: Without a sole opposition candidate, the #NeverTrump crowd lacks a cohesive strategy, which could very well be the reason it ultimately falters.

POPPING ON NBC POLITICS

FOR THE RECORD…

"You mean the Indian?"

  • Donald Trump knocking Sen. Elizabeth Warren after she blasted him on Twitter.

TOMORROW’S SKED

Hillary Clinton is in Washington, while Bernie Sanders campaigns in California.

Democrats and Republicans go to the polls in Arizona and Utah. Democrats also vote in Idaho, and Republicans cast ballots in American Samoa.