Who Was Missing at a Clinton Event

1,237. That’s the magic number of delegates needed to win the Republican nomination, the RNC announced Tuesday morning. And with 60 days until the first votes are cast in Iowa, the race for those delegates is taking on new urgency. Candidates are increasingly devoting their time beyond just the first four early states, in reflection of the fact that 565 delegates will be bound on March 1 alone, with the majority being awarded in quick succession through March 15. Their campaigns are also frantically working to ensure ballot access in states requiring signatures. So far only six candidates have submitted the required signatures for the Virginia primary ballot—the toughest requirement in the state—before next week’s deadline.

Elizabeth Warren was the only female Democrat in the Senate to skip out on a Hillary Clinton fundraiser Monday night in Washington, but you might not have noticed it in the room, where her high-profile absence was glossed over. Warren, who is highly regarded by the party’s progressive wing and rejected a draft movement, has seen many of her supporters gravitate to Bernie Sanders and has decided to wait out the primary. There is little upside for Warren in endorsing either candidate, as it would only upset one wing or another in her party, and no downside to waiting, as her supporters have shown no qualms about her decision.

Ted Cruz came out swinging against Democrats Monday, accusing the party of trying to enfranchise convicted felons because they vote Democratic and asserting that most violent offenders are Democrats. It’s the sort of red meat that Republicans love to hear, and is consistent with Cruz’s campaign strategy to turn out conservative voters in historic droves. But that plan is risky, to say the least, as it is not clear that there are enough conservative voters in the aging and shrinking party to counteract Democratic turnout. Most of his rivals, instead, are hoping to broaden the party’s appeal to a new generation of voters.

Donald Trump is claiming the endorsement of some black pastors after a drama-filled meeting. Speaker Paul Ryan has grown a beard. And Trump is considering asking for an appearance fee for this month’s CNN debate.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Warren Absent From Clinton Fundraiser With Female Senators
The one female Democratic Senator not to endorse Clinton, TIME’s Sam Frizell reports

Calendars Show Clinton Made Time at State for Supporters
Clinton maintained political contacts in office [Associated Press]

Marco Rubio Pivots to his Next Stage
The Florida senator’s focus is finally shifting from political influencers to the voters themselves [Politico]

Can Evangelicals Swing 2016 for GOP, as Cruz Says?
Increased turnout among Republican base will help, but wooing minority voters is just as crucial to win [Wall Street Journal]

Fear, Faith and the Rise of Ben Carson
Meet the Carson supporters [Washington Post]

Sound Off

“Now listen, here’s the simple and undeniable fact. The overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats. The media doesn’t report that. What they report, and there’s a reason why the Democrats for years have been viewed as soft on crime, because they go in and they appoint to the bench judges who release violent criminals. They go in, and they do what Barack Obama tried to do, which is appoint a lawyer voluntarily represented for free, a cop killer, to a senior Justice Department position. They go in and fight to give the right to vote to convicted felons. Why? Because the Democrats know convicted felons tend to vote Democrat.” — Ted Cruz to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, responding to Friday’s shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood

“Last I checked we don’t have a rubber shortage in America. When I was in college we had a machine in the bathroom, you put 50 cents in and voila! So yes, anyone who wants contraceptives can access them, but it’s an utterly made-up nonsense issue.” — Ted Cruz in Iowa Monday responding to Democrats’ assertion that Republicans are against contraception

Bits and Bites

Trump Says ‘Many’ Black Pastors Endorsed Him After Meeting [TIME]

Paul Ryan Claims to Be First Bearded Speaker in a Century [TIME]

Trump Proposes $5 Million Ransom for Showing Up at CNN Debate [TIME]

Obama Names New ISIS Adviser, Counter-Terror Measures [CNN]

Hillary Clinton Unveils $275 Billion Infrastructure Investment Plan [New York Times]

State Dept., Intel Watchdog Tangle Over Clinton Emails [Politico]

Christie Fires Back at Trump: ‘Donald Is Used to Intimidating Folks’ [Washington Post]

Nurses Union Vows to Continue Backing Bernie Sanders Through Its Super PAC [Washington Post]