First Read: Will Trump be a down-ballot drag?

Why Bernie Sanders is likely to beat Hillary Clinton in West Virginia

In May of 2008, Hillary Clinton crushed Barack Obama in West Virginia’s Democratic primary, 67%-28%, even when it was pretty clear Obama would be the party’s presidential nominee. Eight years later, it’s likely that Clinton will suffer the same fate tonight in West Virginia that Obama did. Why? As we’ve come to learn, Clinton’s performance in these white working-class states back in 2008 was LESS about her and MORE about views about the front-runner — Obama. And so if Sanders runs up the score tonight in West Virginia, it might be less about him and his views on democratic socialism and more about the woman who has embraced 98% of Obama’s agenda, especially on energy and coal.

One other reminder about the West Virginia primary: In 2012, a felon serving a 17 ½ year sentence got 41% of the vote against Obama in the state’s Democratic primary — when the Democratic president was essentially running unopposed. “Simply put, West Virginia does not like Obama,” the Washington Post wrote at the time. Polls close in West Virginia at 7:30 pm ET, and 29 pledged delegates are up for grabs on the Dem side. Nebraska is also holding its presidential primary on the GOP side, but there’s no Republican remaining in the race besides Trump. Here’s the delegate math in the Democratic contest:

In pledged delegates, Clinton currently holds a lead of 282 delegates

• Clinton 1,704 (55%)
• Sanders 1,419 (45%)

Clinton must win 35% of remaining pledged delegates to get a majority in pledged delegates

Sanders must win 65% of remaining pledged delegates to get a majority in pledged delegates

In overall delegates (pledged + super), Clinton holds an overall lead of 766 delegates

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NBC|SurveyMonkey tracking poll: Clinton leads Trump by 5 pts nationally:

In this week’s online NBC|SurveyMonkey tracking poll, Hillary Clinton holds a five-point national lead over Donald Trump, 49%-44%. Meanwhile, a trio of swing state Quinnipiac polls show tight races in Florida (Clinton 43%, Trump 42%), Ohio (Trump 43%, Clinton 39%), and Pennsylvania (Clinton 43%, Trump 42%). But the polling samples in those three states are whiter than what they were in 2012, according to the exit polls.

• Quinnipiac’s Florida sample is 69% white — was 67% in 2012;
• Quinnipiac’s Ohio sample is 83% white — was 79% in 2012;
• Quinnipiac’s Pennsylvania sample is 81% white — was 78% in 2012.

Source: Clinton camp will advertise in Kentucky

A Democratic source familiar with the Clinton campaign tells NBC’s Kristen Welker that the campaign has reserved ad time in Kentucky for later this week. This is noteworthy because the campaign did not advertise in Indiana or West Virginia. A campaign aide told Welker that they think Kentucky will be close, but think they have a shot at winning because it is a closed primary (meaning independents can’t vote). They are bracing for losses in West Virginia and Oregon. Additionally, Welker reports that Clinton will announce a new child care policy in Kentucky today. This is the type of initiative aimed at appealing to women and working class voters who are critical to her general election strategy.

On the trail

Hillary Clinton campaigns in Kentucky… And Bernie Sanders hits both California and Oregon.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.