POLITICO Playbook: TRUMP: “At the right time, I will be so presidential that you’ll call me and you’ll say, ‘Donald, you have to stop that’”

HOLDING THEIR NOSES: A new euphemism is catching on among GOP senators as they adjust to the likelihood of Trump as nominee. When pressed at D.C. dinner parties on whether they'll support him, they say they'll back "the ticket."

COURT PICK COULD BE SOON - "Supreme Court, Trump engulf Capitol Hill: The high court battle is all anyone's talking about other than Trump, which isn't a good place for Republicans," by John Bresnahan: "And it will only get more heated once Obama makes his pick, putting a face on what's been a semi-theoretical fight so far. Administration officials say a decision could come as early as next week, before Obama heads to Cuba for a historic visit, though there's no firm deadline."  https://politi.co/1XeAHG6

JEFFREY GOLDBERG on cover of April issue of The Atlantic, "The Obama Doctrine: How he's shaped the world ... The president explains his hardest decisions about America's role in the world":"Over the course of our conversations, I came to see Obama as a president who has grown steadily more fatalistic about the constraints on America's ability to direct global events, even as he has, late in his presidency, accumulated a set of potentially historic foreign-policy achievements ... [H]e also has come to learn, he told me, that very little is accomplished in international affairs without U.S. leadership." 21 pages in the magazine  https://theatln.tc/24SvKsd ... Editor in Chief James Bennett, "Portrait of a Presidential Mind" (full page in mag)  https://theatln.tc/1phZZJ5 ... See the cover.  https://bit.ly/1phZLBy

By Mike Allen (@mikeallen; [email protected]) and Daniel Lippman (@dlippman; [email protected])

**SUBSCRIBE to Playbook: https://politi.co/1M75UbX 

WASHINGTON, INC. -- "K Street money set looks to contain Trump damage: All but resigned to a Trump general election loss, donors are focusing instead on saving the GOP-controlled Congress," by Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman: "[I]nstead of locking arms with Trump, they're looking past him - seeing the real estate mogul as a likely general election loser - and instead focusing their energy and money on retaining their firewall on Capitol Hill. Republican business groups and operatives are going all out to save their majorities in Washington, stepping up fundraising outreach."  https://politi.co/24SiQKZ

WORTH THE CLICK -- "The Political TV Ad Archive is making it easier for journalists to report on campaign spots," by Nieman Lab's Joseph Lichterman: "[T]he Political TV Ad Archive [is] a project from the Internet Archive that is building a searchable archive of political ads throughout the 2016 primary season in partnership with a number of fact-checking, transparency, and journalism advocacy groups ... covers 20 media markets in eight states. It also includes ads that exclusively aired online."  https://bit.ly/1Le3zO7

TRUMP PIVOTS TO GENERAL - AP's Julie Pace in Miami, with Jill Colvin and Donna Cassata: "talking about flexibility in his hardline immigration policies ... pledging to moderate his bullying tone, acknowledging that women in particular may be turned off by his brash brand of politics ... working to assume the mantle of GOP standard-bearer, calling for party unity and promising to help fellow Republicans win their own elections in November." https://apne.ws/1QJbMKg

--TRUMP, to Sean Hannity last night in Fayetteville, N.C.: "At the right time, I will be so presidential that you'll call me and you'll say, 'Donald, you have to stop that.' (LAUGHTER) But you know what? It is true, and I think you understand: When they attack me, I have to attack back. I'm a counter-puncher. When they attack me, if I don't attack back -- You know, the press could say, 'Oh, he should act more presidential.' And then like a couple of days ago, I gave a speech, they said, 'That was so presidential.' I can be presidential. But when you're being attacked and when you attack back, they say it's not presidential."

--N.Y. POST cover (bottom half), "THE FAT LADY WARMS UP: Trump soars in Fla., Ohio polls - Says it's all over if he wins both."  https://nyp.st/1QFS7tt

TOP TWEETS ... @BrendanBuck: "How the scam works: 'Political consultant' uses Paul Ryan name. Develops email list. Only to sell list later."  www.draftspeakerryan.com ... @blakehounshell: "SPOTTED in Rosslyn: four millennials trying to change a tire on a Prius" ... @mmurraypolitics: "To get to the magic number of 2,383, Sanders would need to win 60% of all remaining delegates" ... @NateSilver538 : "Very possible Sanders will win more states than Clinton without coming especially close to her in pledged delegates" ... @BuzzFeedBen: "Impossible to imagine a wider gap between Trump position -- mass deportation -- and new Dem one: no more deportation. Whole middle gone."

FLASHBACK -- @tedcruz, Dec. 11: "The Establishment's only hope: Trump & me in a cage match. Sorry to disappoint -- @realDonaldTrump is terrific. #DealWithIt" (h/t @BuzzFeedAndrew)

WHAT FLORIDA IS READING - Tampa Bay Times p. 1A, above fold, "Polls put Rubio far back in Florida: He stays optimistic in spite of projections that he won't win," by Adam Smith and Alex Leary: "Five new polls show Rubio trailing Donald Trump by double digits among Florida Republicans. Two of them - by Fox News and Quinnipiac University - found Trump burying Rubio by 23 percentage points." https://bit.ly/1P1kNc9

WHAT OHIO IS READING - Cincinnati Enquirer cover, "New polls show Trump ahead of Kasich in Ohio," by Deirdre Shesgreen (online, with Chrissie Thompson: "Trump, John Kasich deadlocked in Ohio polls"): "Trump's campaign says it has 10 offices, five paid staffers and thousands of volunteers deployed across the state." https://cin.ci/225eC0f

** A message from the Coalition to Save Medicare Advantage Retiree Coverage: Proposed new cuts to Medicare Advantage (MA) Retiree Coverage will hurt 3.3 million seniors - costing each retiree up to $264 a year in higher costs and reduced benefits. Fight the cuts at: https://bit.ly/1QP1GmR **

RUBIO REGRETS - Marco to Megyn Kelly on Fox's "The Kelly File," re his personal attacks on Trump: "I'd do it differently. I really would. ... [M]y kids were embarrassed by it. My wife didn't like it. I don't think it reflects good -- That's not who I am. That's not what my campaign is going to be about or will ever be about again. I'd do it differently, on the personal stuff. I'm not telling you he didn't deserve it. But that's not who I am and that's not what I want to be. Honestly, I want to be a good example. I want my kids to be proud of me and I don't think it reflected well on my faith. And so I felt bad about that."

--WashPost A1, "Rubio's fateful error: A strategy that back?red," by Phil Rucker, Ed O'Keefe and Matea Gold: "A strategy designed to get under Trump's skin and force him on the defensive instead backfired on Rubio, diminishing the 44-year-old senator who had spent years trying to demonstrate presidential gravitas. At rally after rally, Rubio was unintentionally personifying the caricature that Trump was perpetually drawing of him: 'Little Marco.' ... Rubio lost 18 of the next 20 contests ... The ultimate humiliation came on Tuesday, when ... he was shut out from gaining any delegates."  https://wapo.st/1WbiCIK

--TRAIL PIC -- @ByronYork : "Rubio stadium event in Hialeah [in Miami-Dade County, Florida]. Stands empty; crowd in one end zone"  https://bit.ly/1p9MjPy

FIRST DAUGHTERS -- "Chelsea and Ivanka put their friendship on ice," by Annie Karni: "When Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump were introduced by their husbands a few years ago, they clicked immediately ... They seemed to genuinely delight in each other's presence and discovered much common ground. ... But with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump now on track for a King Kong versus Godzilla political collision in November, that friendship has been put on temporary hold - [and] both women ... have chosen to no longer be seen together in public during the election."  https://politi.co/1Uhq1r1

GLENN THRUSH, "5 takeaways from the Democratic debate: The Univision/CNN showdown was feisty but ended in a draw": "1. Slick Bernie ... 2. Scattershot Hillary ... 3. Clinton's best line of the campaign ... 4. Sanders fought Clinton a draw on immigration ... 5. Jorge Ramos cares very much about Clinton's damn emails." https://politi.co/1RSxdHZ

--"7 most interesting moments of the Democratic debate," by Daniel Strauss  https://politi.co/1LeaBCB

THE NARRATIVE ... WSJ A1, above fold, "Democrats Settle In For Long Contest" https://on.wsj.com/1phTPbT ... Dan Balz "The Take" column on WashPost A1, "Scrappy debate signals long grind"  https://wapo.st/2222iBf

HILLARY RECALIBRATES after Michigan upset -- N.Y. Times p. A1, at fold, "Clinton Giving Jobs and Trade New Emphasis," by Amy Chozick in Detroit, with Yamiche Alcindor in Miami and Patrick Healy in N.Y.: "While his victory did little to bridge the delegate gap with Mrs. Clinton, the loss in Michigan left the Clinton camp confronting an urgent quandary as the Democratic contest moves to other Midwestern states like Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, which will vote on Tuesday: Will Mrs. Clinton's we're-all-in-this-together approach work in what has been called an off-with-their-heads election year?

"Stung by the bad showing, Mrs. Clinton was already recalibrating her message ... 'I don't want to be the president for those who are already successful - they don't need me,' she said at a rally Tuesday night in Cleveland. 'I want to be the president for the struggling and the striving.' ... [T]he campaign manager, Robby Mook, acknowledged that it needed to better amplify Mrs. Clinton's tough stance on trade deals and her plans to actually create and bring back manufacturing jobs, while contrasting her specific policies with what her aides say are empty catchphrases and trade bashing from Mr. Sanders."  https://nyti.ms/1SBPknU

ARTICLE OF THE DAY - Wall Street Journal 5-col. lead, "Free Trade Loses Political Favor: Republican backing fades as voters voice surprising skepticism; Pacific pact seen at risk," by Bob Davis: "[O]ne big surprise Tuesday was how loudly trade fears reverberated among Republican voters ... evidence ... of a widening undercurrent of skepticism on the right about who reaps the benefits from loosened trade restrictions. ... Trump won ... Michigan and Mississippi ... by wide margins ... [A]mong ... trade skeptics, his margin of victory surpassed his overall margin. Trade jitters also helped propel ... Sanders to a narrow victory in Michigan." https://on.wsj.com/1TNW2bM

STEVE RATTNER on N.Y. Times Op-Ed page, "Who's Killing Global Growth? World economics are slowing. Our political leaders are to blame": "What's unusual about today's raft of challenges is the extent to which governments around the world have added to the problems, rather than ameliorating them. Poor policy choices, like misguided spending priorities and too much austerity, have added to the drag on growth. Notably, failing to act at all has cut deeply into business and investor confidence, an important support mechanism for markets and consumers alike." With five online charts  https://nyti.ms/1RSv2UH

POWER PLAYERS -- DAVID MARIN named Managing Principal of Podesta Group PR - Forthcoming release: "Marin ... has helped revive the golf industry's reputation among policymakers by creating the We Are Golf initiative; overturned, on behalf of CrossFit, Inc., regulations in [DC] that would have required the licensure of personal fitness trainers; navigated numerous organizations and individuals through the congressional 2 investigations process unscathed; and enhanced the profiles of Fortune 500 brands seeking to increase market share in Washington, DC, the nation, and around the globe."  https://bit.ly/1P1ktu8

--"Ken Feinberg, the Master of Disasters," by N.Y. Observer's Ross Barkan: "To his admirers, Mr. Feinberg is a little like the titan Atlas holding up the planet. To his detractors, he is high-handed and patrician, a press-savvy enabler for flush corporations to dodge costly lawsuits. ... Most recently, Volkswagen tapped Mr. Feinberg to administer an independent claims program for the owners of nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles ... Feinberg expects calls about the lead-poisoned water in Flint."  https://bit.ly/225dsSl

BUSH ALUMNI - JOSH BOLTEN is sending an email this morning to Bush alums in D.C. to urge them to participate in this weekend's GOP convention and to vote for anti-Trump delegates: "I believe that nominating the current Republican frontrunner would cost our Party its standing as the defender of limited government, constitutional principle, and American leadership - leaving it crippled for years to come. ... Donald Trump, the man who accused President Bush and his team of lying, isn't fit for the office our former boss held with such distinction. If you are registered in DC, I urge you to join me in voting in the Republican primary on Saturday."

GROUND GAME -- "Starbucks urges baristas to register to vote," by Daniel Lippman: "[C]hairman and CEO Howard Schultz wrote in a letter on Monday [to 150,000 U.S. employees:] 'For decades we've created meaningful connections with our customers and served communities ... We're about to answer these questions once again by addressing a problem that many partners have identified as extremely important: increasing voter registration and participation across America.' The company will be using TurboVote to make it easy for all U.S. employees to register to vote from both computers and mobile devices."  https://politi.co/1UeVj1N ...The letter https://politi.co/1nyXAYE

SNEAK PEEK -- TIME COVER on Nancy Reagan , showing her with Ronnie, overlooking a packed convention floor, "What happened to this party?" TIME Editor Nancy Gibbs writes: She "Those who loved him should thank her, for never was a public man so faithfully served by a very private woman who read his needs, enabled his strengths, defused his weaknesses and in the process displayed a love of country that refracted through her love of the man."  https://ti.me/1TY5uc6 ... See the cover https://bit.ly/1Xdizwp

CLICKER - Hamilton Place Strategies' delegate tracker that shows the state of the Republican race: https://bit.ly/1YArKbp

DAILY DONALD - TRUMP GROUPIES -- "Trump's VIPs Get Front-Row Seats to His Political Spectacle," by Bloomberg's Michael C. Bender: "As has become Trump's habit in South Florida, he invited club members to the news conference, and seated them in the first few rows. For all the huge rallies and talk of angry outsiders, this small, expensively dressed group is Trump's real base. There are CEOs, insurance brokers, health-care executives, former debutantes, trophy wives, and a woman in a short, sparkling silver dress (and thick bracelet to match) with an animal fur wrapped around her like a sash." https://bloom.bg/1XerXzI

--"How Do You Talk to Your Children About Donald Trump? Thoughtfully," by NYT's Sarah Lyall : "Social media has buzzed with parents relaying their children's fears that they or their friends would be deported, walled in or walled out if Mr. Trump were to become president."  https://nyti.ms/221Pivs

--"Democrats Target Trump U. in Digital Ads Aimed at March 15 Voters" - NYT's Nick Corasaniti: "[T]hrough a digital ad campaign, the [DNC] is joining the fray. ... The group is easing into it, beginning with an online-only ad that it will be targeting on Facebook to voters in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, which all have primaries next Tuesday, with a sarcastic, trolling video playing off the lawsuits and reports surrounding Trump University." https://nyti.ms/1YArXvk ... The ad  https://bit.ly/1phMDg3

PLAYBOOK IN-BOX: Trump's effect on DC's social life -- Kyle S. Hauptman, executive director for financial regulatory reform group Main Street Growth Project: "Here's something people are noticing about 'DC insiders' lately: Trump's candidacy has made things more amicable between Democrats & Republicans in DC's professional class. At dinners, cocktail receptions, on the Acela ... partisan arguments have been replaced by a shared dismay at Trump's rise. People seem to miss the days of, say, Romney & Obama arguing about Obamacare. Of course, this situation likely pleases Trump's supporters."

ROGER STONE email , from "The Committee to Restore America's Greatness: Trump Ballot Security Project": "Dear Supporter, The Big Steal has begun! We must act NOW to stop them from stealing the victory from Donald Trump! I truly appreciate all you have done in the past to help elect Donald Trump, but candor compels me to tell you that you continued help is critical! ... Their secret plan is to steal enough votes from Trump so that he will arrive at the convention with a few votes short of the magic number, 1237, and then to engineer a back-room deal to install Mitt Romney as the nominee. ... Sincerely, Roger Stone."

MONEY HONEYS -- "Koch-backed group praises Bernie Sanders," by Daniel Strauss: "The group at the center of the Koch brothers' vast political network ... Freedom Partners put out the web video ... [which] features a clip of Sanders responding to a question from the previous debate about why he opposed the Export-Import bank, a favorite punching bag of the Koch brothers."  https://politi.co/2227NzZ ... 30-second video https://bit.ly/1M8CpD1

HOLLYWOODLAND -- "Star Wars: Disney got ￡31 million from UK taxman for Force Awakens," by Politico's Alex Spence in London: "No wonder George Osborne got a shout-out in the closing credits of the latest Star Wars movie. The British government contributed at least ￡31.6 million to funding The Force Awakens." https://politi.co/1M8pktr

MEDIAWATCH -- Emily Greenhouse [daughter of Steven] returns to the New Yorker's staff as managing editor after a 16-month hiatus during which she worked as a writer for Bloomberg Politics, an insider tells POLITICO's Joe Pompeo. Greenhouse succeeds Silvia Killingsworth, who was named editor in chief of The Awl last week. The New Yorker has a track record of recruiting precocious 20-somethings into its managing editor role. SKDK's Alex Levy, Emily's Wesleyan classmate and biggest fan emails us: "The pride of Pelham, Emily is beloved by friends and colleagues alike for her frenetic emailing, astute cultural observations, and general joie de vivre."

#THISTOWN -- "Yik Yak for Congressional Staffers Is Horny, Fratty and Nerdy. Here Are Some Screenshots," by Re/code's Noah Kulwin: "[O]n Cloakroom, a Yik Yak-like anonymous messaging app for those with a senate.gov or house.gov email address, the Capitol Hill rank and file get to share what they want to, without consequence. ... On Cloakroom, there are bad memes, bigoted slurs and casual conversation about relevant political topics, like the Apple-FBI encryption court battle or the presidential nomination fights. Users post under pseudonyms, and iPhone users have the ability to send one another direct messages that are deleted once they are read." With lots of screenshots https://on.recode.net/2225NaN

TRANSITIONS - Human Rights Campaign "Names Joni Madison as New Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff": "Madison will report ... to HRC President Chad Griffin and will oversee all HRC operations." https://politi.co/221RC5F

-- Allison Tucker (who goes by Tuck Tuck or Goose) has been promoted from staff assistant to deputy press secretary in Indiana GOP Rep. Marlin Stutzman's office.

ENGAGED - Stephen Morrissey , a student at Penn Law and incoming associate at Skadden, to Elise Aronson, an MBA student at Wharton and alum of Well & Lighthouse and GMMB, on Tuesday during vacation in Paris. The two met while interning at the DSCC in 2011, and have been together in Democratic circles ever since. Pics of the proposal  https://bit.ly/1YAuuWm ... https://bit.ly/1U4OCQZ

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Allison Mohoney ... Brooks Kraft ... Jim Holmes of Bonita Springs, Fla., father of Josh ... (was Tuesday): Jesse Thomas, VP of Crowdpac and alum of OFA and NextGen Climate ...

BIRTHDAYS: Perri Peltz (hat tip: Eric, Autumn) ... Brad Dayspring, Politico Vice President of Global Communications, and the pride of Pompton Lakes, N.J. (puck tip: Lauren) ... Matt Jessee of Bryan Cave Strategies (h/t Jack Oliver) ... Bill Nichols (h/ts Su-Lin, Charlie, Will, JFH, D.J.) ... John Murray, the pride of Seattle, a YG Network and Cantor alum, now a partner at Monument Policy Group ... Jon Haber of Cascade Strategy and heroic birthday hat-tipper (h/ts birthday boy Randy White, Paul Equale and Teresa) ... Sarah Coppersmith, VP at Scott Circle, celebrating the big 3-0 with "Sips at The Circle" in the afternoon (h/t birthday boy Jon Haber, Laura Gross, and Teresa) ... Vernon Loeb, managing editor of the Houston Chronicle and WashPost alum ... Jim Sciutto, CNN's Chief National Security Correspondent who studied Chinese history at Yale, and is an ABC alum, former chief of staff and senior advisor to ex-U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke (h/ts Gloria Rivera, Jon and Maria Karl) ...

... Ron Elving, NPR's senior Washington editor ... Thomas McGill ... Politico's Nicole Adams ... Carrie Filipetti, director of portfolio management at the Paul E. Singer Foundation (h/t Bonner) ... Randy White, lobbyist at ATLA/AAJ (h/t Erin Taylor) ... Adam Bodily, who has worked on four consecutive presidential campaigns, starting with 43 in '04, two Romneys and a Kasich ... Colin Coletti, former Portman staffer now at the University of Sydney pursuing his masters, is 27 (h/t Andrew Mountain) ... Kevin McKeon, DCCC alum now SVP at Putnam Partners ... Nicole Guillemard, founder and president of Eureka Strategies Group and former Bush WH national Hispanic spokesperson... Danny Hakim, NYT's European business correspondent ... Amy Weiss, CEO of Weiss Public Affairs ... Ed Hooper ... Ashley Summers ...

... Christie Roberts, DSCC Research Director and a Jon Tester alum ... Chris Corcoran, senior adviser to Louisville Mayor Jim Gray and an OPOWER alum ... Amy Dorcy ... Yuriko Kikkawa-Thompson ... Josh Johnson ... Dwane Bennett ... Mike Callahan, senior Washington producer at Bloomberg ... Joel Gravely ... Emily Schultze ... Alex Treadway, WashPost's V.P. of leadership sales and a Daily Caller alum (h/t Peter) ... Cary Hatch, CEO of MDB Communications ... Victor Pickard ... OFA alum Simeon Talley ... Henry Doggett ... Margaret McEntire ... David Kass (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) ... actor Chuck Norris is 76 ... Barbara Corcoran ("Shark Tank") is 67 ... Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) is 53 ... Britain's Prince Edward is 52 ... Edie Brickell is 50 ... Jon Hamm is 45 ... Robin Thicke is 39 .... Carrie Underwood is 33 ... actress Emily Osment is 24 (h/ts AP)

DESSERT -- "Dos Equis says 'adios' to 'Most Interesting Man' pitchman," by AP's Joseph Pisani: "Dos Equis is letting go of its gray-haired spokesman, 77-year-old Jonathan Goldsmith, and replacing him with another actor. ... Dos Equis is making the change to attract new drinkers ... Dos Equis, owned by Amsterdam-based Heineken, said sales of the brand have nearly tripled since the ads began airing in 2007. A new 'Most Interesting Man in the World' will appear in commercials later this year. A replacement has been chosen." https://yhoo.it/1Wb6NlS

** A message from the Coalition to Save Medicare Advantage Retiree Coverage: Bringing together seniors, employers and labor organizations, the Coalition is fighting to protect the high-quality, affordable Medicare Advantage (MA) Retiree Coverage that 3.3 million seniors rely on for their health and financial security. New cuts to MA Retiree Coverage proposed by CMS will cost each enrolled senior up to $264 a year in higher costs and reduced benefits. CMS should listen to the bipartisan, bicameral supermajority of 369 members of Congress that urged the agency to protect the MA program from further cuts. Fight the cuts and protect retirees at: https://bit.ly/1QP1GmR **

SUBSCRIBE to the Playbook family: POLITICO Playbook https://politi.co/1M75UbX ... New York Playbook https://politi.co/1ON8bqW ... Florida Playbook https://politi.co/1JDm23W ... New Jersey Playbook https://politi.co/1HLKltF ... Massachusetts Playbook  https://politi.co/1Nhtq5v ... Illinois Playbookhttps://politi.co/1N7u5sb ... California Playbook  https://politi.co/1N8zdJU ... Brussels Playbookhttps://politi.co/1FZeLcw

To view online:
https://www.politico.com/playbook/2016/03/trump-at-the-right-time-i-will-be-so-presidential-that-youll-call-me-and-youll-say-donald-you-have-to-stop-that-rubios-schoolyard-attacks-backfire-213129

To change your alert settings, please go to https://www.politico.com/registration