First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC Political Unit on the day’s most important political stories and why they matter.
The chance to stop Trump is real
Two days after Super Tuesday, the GOP establishment’s knives are once again out for Donald Trump — whether it’s Mitt Romney’s speech today, tonight’s debate in Michigan, or the new TV ads targeting Trump. And here’s the reality: The opportunity to stop Trump is real. After the Super Tuesday results, it’s clear that Trump had a good (though hardly great) night. Despite winning seven out of the 11 contests, Trump holds just a 23-delegate lead over Ted Cruz from the Super Tuesday delegates, according to NBC’s count: Trump 243, Cruz 220, Rubio 101, Kasich 21. (The biggest reason for this narrow deficit: Cruz absolutely cleaned up winning Texas delegates.) Overall, the delegate race is Trump 325, Cruz 237, Rubio 117, Kasich 27. So while Trump’s rivals now have 12 days to stop Trump — especially when it comes to the March 15 winner-take-all primaries in Florida and Ohio — it’s also pretty obvious that Trump need a win in either Florida or Ohio to have a surer path to 1,237 delegates. These contests no longer look like luxuries for Trump; they’re necessities.
Trump’s rivals have opportunities rack up delegates over the next five days
And before the March 15 contests, it’s also worth noting that many of the upcoming March 5-8 GOP contests are closed off to non-Republicans, meaning that the independents and outsiders who have been helping Trump at the ballot box won’t be able to participate.
March 5
Kansas (40 delegates): Closed (Caucus)
Kentucky (45): Closed (Caucus)
Louisiana (47): Closed (Primary)
Maine (23): Closed (Caucus)
March 8
Hawaii (19): Closed (Caucus)
Idaho (32): Closed (Primary)
Michigan (59): Open (Primary)
Mississippi (40): Open (Primary)
Indeed, when you look at this calendar and the closed nature of the contests, it looks like an opportunity for Trump’s opponents. Trump is leading in the polls in Michigan, and he should do well in Mississippi (if the Alabama/Georgia results from Tuesday are any indication). But the other closed contests are opportunities for his rivals. Can they take advantage?
Mitt Romney and the GOP’s original sin with Trump









