Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* After the remaining Republican presidential candidates effectively shredded the party's "loyalty pledge" this week, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee issued a statement yesterday that said, "The pledge is simple, each candidate agreed to run as a Republican and support the nominee. We are confident that Republicans will unite to defeat Hillary Clinton."
* Bernie Sanders continues to push for a ninth debate against Hillary Clinton, and a Clinton spokesperson said yesterday that she's "perfectly willing" to participate "if they can find a mutually agreeable date."
* In New York, which hosts its primary on April 19, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Clinton leading Sanders, 54% to 42%.
* Among Republicans in the Empire State, the same poll found Donald Trump with a big lead in New York, leading the field with 56%. Ted Cruz was second with 20%, followed closely by John Kasich with 19%.
* Speaking of Trump, the Republican frontrunner picked up an endorsement yesterday from a union representing 16,500 Border Patrol agents.
* In Wisconsin, the new Marquette University Law School poll shows an increasingly competitive U.S. Senate race, with former Sen. Russ Feingold (D) leading incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R) by just five points, 47% to 42%.
* John Kasich said this week that it was "stupid" for Republicans to promise voters in 2014 that they'd repeal the Affordable Care Act once the GOP took over Congress, with President Obama still in the White House.
* And despite rumors about his looming retirement, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) filed the paperwork this week for his re-election bid. The far-right congressman is best known for leading the House Republicans' Benghazi committee.