Welcome to The Lid, your afternoon dose of the 2016 ethos... The Daily Beast reports that Ted Cruz is obsessed with the video game "Plants vs. Zombies." In the game, players use sunlight to feed plants that in turn fend off zombies, which Democrats say is exactly what will happen if Cruz wins the White House.
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'16 AT 30 THOUSAND
Some (wo)men ask why, but Republicans thinking about running for president in 2016 ask “Why not?” On top of George Pataki’s bid to officially enter the race, we learned today that A) Rep. Peter King is still thinking about a run and B) Donald Trump is reportedly ready to make a major decision on June 16. That comes after yesterday’s news that John Kasich is more likely than not to join the race. First Read this morning laid out a few reasons why this is the case -- history is on the GOP’s side, Jeb Bush isn’t intimidating anyone, and super PACs can prop up a candidate long enough to earn some notoriety. (More reasons why the field is growing from NBC’s Perry Bacon here.)
And today’s Quinnipiac poll may provide even more incentive for Republicans on the fence to get in. You have Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson and Mike Huckabee all tied at ten percent each. Most of the rest of the field is sitting in the single digits, separated by just a few points. So if you’re a potential candidate worried about the embarrassment of not making the debates, so what? You could be left out with the likes of Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Lindsey Graham. Worried you might only get 3 percent in the Iowa caucuses? At least you won’t be the only one. So, if you want to go for it, why not give it a try? The size of the field may be a factor in making it even larger since it can act as a cover for the longshots. No one is going to stick out like a sore thumb.
And a note to our loyal readers… There will no lid tomorrow because, well, #Friday
POPPING ON NBC POLITICS
Former New York Governor George Pataki officially become the 8th Republican to enter the 2016 race.
But his moderate record and years out of public office will make it tough for him to gain traction, NBC’s Perry Bacon reports.
And there (could be) more…New York Rep. Peter King told Andrea Mitchell that he too is thinking about a 2016 run, NBC’s Leigh Ann Caldwell writes.
Rick Santorum is kicking off his campaign in Iowa, where his 2012 staff is all gone, one of us writes.
And the Obama administration asked a federal judge to throw out the GOP’s lawsuit against Obamacare, NBC’s Alex Moe reports.
CAMPAIGN QUICK READS
WALKER: The Wisconsin governor signaled support for a plan to publicly fund a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. (Interesting to note that Marc Lasry, a co-owner of the Bucks, is a major blunder for Hillary Clinton.)
TRUMP: He’s making a “major” announcement June 16 at Trump Towers in Manhattan, WMUR reports.
SANTORUM: His op/ed in today’s Des Moines Register: Who fights for hardworking families?
CLINTON: The Daily Mail caught up with Paula Jones, who says Hillary Clinton is unfit to serve because of Bill Clinton’s past.
O’MALLEY: Community activists in Baltimore are planning to protest the former mayor when he announces his presidential run on Saturday, Patch reports.
FOR THE RECORD…
“Who would want Bill Clinton back a second time, doing the same stuff he was doing before, philandering with women?”
- Paula Jones in an interview with the Daily Mail
TOMORROW’S SKED
Scott Walker, Robert Ehrlich, Jim Gilmore and George Pataki attend the Belknap County Republican Committee's Cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
Hillary Clinton holds events in Florida.
Bernie Sanders is in Iowa for two events.
