illegal immigrants on obama, and politicians period could he leave the rest of them lying on the street? is there a chance this comic book hero could actually take off? howard fineman, with the huffington post and susan page from usa today. donald trump is now don tier. a new poll has trump in second place nationally with 12%. jeb bush is the front-runner at 19. quinnipiac has trump juching also into second into a tie. and a recent suffolk university poll has trump in new hampshire with 11%, trailing jeb by just 3%. this is for real. the question is is it for long? i wonder if all the other candidates are tiptoeing around the issue and he goes right to the gut. you don't like illegal immigrants, i don't like illegal immigrants. you don't like obama, i don't like obama. you don't like isis i don't like isis. he talks to people in american english in a way these other door mats in many ways don't know how to talk. talk. >> well chris, what i saw up here in manchester new hampshire, when a got here today, was the union leader newspaper, which is the bible of politics in new hampshire, they put chris christie they buried him on the inside with a small story about his announcement. one of the things that's happened, chris christie flamed out, and he was the original new york, metropolitan tough guy. he left an opening. ted cruz who speaks to the id of the republican base the way you're talking about with donald trump is probably too scary even for a lot of republican grassroots people pop so donald trump has an opening because cruz and christie are nowhere. that's number one. number two, there's no front-runner. most of them don't have name recognition. he's donald trump. he's got name recognition like a clinton or a bush. and he speaks clearly and he speaks to the gut. and he knows how to get attention. he's sort of the rich man's chris christie. >> i think he's a comic book hero to a lot of guys. i'd like to go around with a camera and interview people who have just gotten to this country, they say he's like a sinatra guy. he has a lot of money, enjoys it and talks like us. >> plus these attacks with macy's cutting him off. >> that will hurt him. >> and nbc. >> but does that -- >> that helps him. makes it look like he's the victim. he's standing up no one else can even -- he's in number two, with 10%, 11%, and 12%, and he's got a big ceiling on his head because 3 out of 4 republicans in the nbc/wall street journal poll said they would not consider voting for him. when the field gets smaller, he's going to have trouble. >> some of his opponents are out there praising his good work. let's listen to them. >> i think donald trump, who shouldn't be underestimated by the way, i think he's hitting on issues that americans care about. >> when it comes to donald trump, i like donald trump. i think he's terrific you think he's brash. i think he speaks the truth. >> should he apologize for what he said? >> i don't think you should apologize for speaking out against immigration that is a problem. >> are they mostly rapes and murderers? >> they're not mostly that, but i credit him for focusing on an issue that needs to be focused on. >> the guy with the most forceful response had to speak in a foreign language, in spanish. as bloomberg reports, jeb bush addressed some reports. and they wrote, trump spends his life fighting with people bush answered in spanish, and he doesn't, bush said represent the values of the republican party. called the attacks on hispanics disrespectful. but trump still holds sway over the party. in 2012 three years ago, as you recall mitt romney traveled to las vegas to pose with the donald, and get his endorsement. howard, this isn't a dance learned for the occasion. they've been trooping up to donald trump for a long time, kissing his butt saluting him as a grand figure in the country. and i going to go back to this. yeah, he's well known, so why do people want him to be president? why do they want this guy to be president now? >> well i don't think they do want him to be president. i agree with susan -- >> why are they saying yes, trump? he's beating scott walker 2-1, and the rest 2-1. >> part of it is also, especially republican likely voters, are disgusted with the political system. they're disgusted and cynical about traditional politicians. they hate congress. they hate the republican party. donald trump is like a big macy's day parade balloon, who seems to hover about all of traditional politics. his support is a comment on the cynicism and disaffection of the republican grassroots and the conservative grassroots with the whole structure of politics. and because he's outside of it and because to some extent, he's a comic figure almost he gets to comment on it and trash it in a way that's pleasing to some republican people who answer polls right now. >> and i do think sometimes i'm running along, remember the guys holding the ropes on the big balloons, and every once in a while, you get taken up and you rise above the streets. >> that's donald trump. >> he's selling an unapologetic attack on immigrants from the southern border. let's watch the bad stuff. >> when mexico sends its people they're not sending their best. they're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. they're rapists. >> would you take any of that back or rephrase any of it if you could? >> no because it's totally accurate. huffington post and fusion 80% of central american women and girls are raped coming into the united states crossing the borders. they're taking our jobs they're taking our manufacturing and they're taking our money. >> today macy's announced it will no longer sell trump's menswear collections in its stores because of remarks like those. trump responded by stating, for all those who want to make america great again, boycott macy's. they are weak on border security. and on stopping illegal immigration. >> did you know that macy's had a policy on border patrolling? >> yes, they do. they're building a big wall. it's comic and think about when republicans want to turn around and appeal to hispanic voters in a general election, how is it going to be when the nominee has to live with the legacy of language like that? >> why aren't they lining up in english, jeb bush speaking in english against this guy? >> because he does appeal to part of the republican party, and you're at the point where that's who you're trying to appeal to. >> the english-speaking portion of the republican party is probably 90%. >> probably 99%. >> can i get in? >> sure you're in. >> can i say, chris, donald trump is now so much of a force, at least for now, that one of the other republican candidates could get some attention and maybe some polling points by taking him on. you know, donald trump sayis a fighter. he knows how to set his coat on fire and everybody else's coat on fire. >> would you go in the ring with him if you were republican? would you go in the ring and say, let's go? would you? politically? >> well, let me say, you got to be prepared. you got to try to skewer him. it's hard to do. but if you can succeed at it you win big points. and i think -- i got to say, i think it's shameful that he says this stuff and that these other candidates who claim to be serious people who want to lead the country, don't take him on. they don't have the guts to say a single word critical of the guy. and jeb bush doing it in spanish is kind of sad actually. come on! you know that the bush family doesn't want to have anything to do with donald trump. it's beneath them. come on! >> i look at the facts, the republican party and the house of representatives refuses to pass a middle of the road immigration bill with some teeth in it in terms of illegal hiring. it tells me that maybe trump knows his mark. here's how he selling the brand through personal nastiness and anything standing in his way. here he goes. >> you know when i watch a george will or a charles krauthammer, they're losers. they're losing. i'll be suing univision. maybe nbc too. i'll have to see. >> "the daily news" has this picture, clown runs for president. "the daily news" is going to be out of business soon. >> how can pushing in first place, this guy can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. >> i think bush is an unhappy person. >> what about marco rubio? >> i think he's highly overrated. >> back to you in order now. we got an iowa -- we got a debate coming up next month. i think he'll be in the center ring making most of the noise and the only guy going at him will probably be chris christie, they'll be punching each other and everybody else is going to look boring. >> and that's not good for the other candidates and the republican party. ten candidates on a stage, at the first debate it's to get the attention. to have the sound bite. >> and it's a fox audience too. >> trump, this is cat nip for him. >> howard, again, i'm not a media critic but it's a fox audience conservative to right-wing and pat buchanan on the hard right will eat this guy up completely that night. >> no i think on the serious side of this, chris, you remember pat buchanan's appeal. you remember the fact that the tea party to a big extent is based on fear of immigration. >> i agree with you. >> you remember that donald trump is the birther guy, he's the guy who's raising the fears about the other, about the outsider, the idea that barack obama is not really from here he's not really an american. this is consistent and this is the dark side of donald trump. we dismiss him as a clownish figure, i think that's probably a dangerous thing to do. because while he's smiling and laughing and getting off those one-liners, he's speaking to the darker id of american political life which is fear of the other and fear of the outsider. and he will stoke it. he knows what sells. and we're in a time of cynicism and fear at the republican grassroots. not with the democrats. they love barack obama right now. they're cheering his greatest week. but the grassroots of the republican party, there's fear, and anger and cynicism and despite his smile and funny hair, he knows how to appeal to that sentiment. >> he also believes that the political establishment has not dealt effectively with the idea of illegal immigration, so he'll do it his way. >> i think that's true. >> chris christie was on the trail today in maine where he received the first big public endorsement of his candidacy from maine governor paul lepage. who has been called america's craziest governor. roll the tape. >> many of you know that i say it the way i see it. sometimes i'm overly blunt. >> you're going to be seeing a lot of me on the front page saying governor lepage tells obama to go to hell. >> about ready to punch a.j. higgins. >> don't punch him. >> oh come on. >> what's your response to people saying it's more than just one incident but rather a pattern? >> tell him to kiss my butt. >> frankly, i think of speaker of house should go back to where he was born. >> we're going to have the debate. this battle coming up a month from now is going to be something to watch. i'm not sure it's about picking a president, but it is about picking a fight. >> that's a great way to put it. that's what we're going to see. >> it's good for democrats. >> and marco rubio, needs to step up to make points to get into the fight. >> i would think we have a couple cuban americans, howard who are running for president, who will be in the ring with this guy as he bashes latinos. one guy with a mexican wife. it gets very tribal when you're talking to donald trump. i've always said that some of these guys would have no problem with illegal immigrations if the immigrants from the south were heidi klums from northern europe. this is an ethnic war here it's for real your thoughts? >> both in terms of tone and the tenor and indeed the substance about that fear on immigration, we now are in a situation where donald trump is setting the tone and the tenor for at least the next month of the campaign heading into that debate in august. nobody could have predicted that a couple weeks ago, but it's true. >> we're looking at the numbers and numbers matter in our business. thank you, howard fineman and susan page. the president announced today that the united states and cuba are restoring full diplomat diplomatic relations. obama's got the hot hand and he's taking the shots. three-pointers, actually. plus as more and more businesses cut ties with donald trump, the one organization that's clearly stuck with the donald, at least for now, is the republican party led by reince priebus. and the release of those e-mails from hillary clinton when she was secretary of state don't con taun tane a smoking gun that the republicans were looking for. let me finish with ted kennedy and others to tharge for the fact that we can watch the great u.s. women's soccer team go for the cup. this is "hardball," the place for politics. t every insurance company understands the life behind it. ♪ those who have served our nation have earned the very best service in return. ♪ usaa. we know what it means to serve. get an auto insurance quote and see why 92% of our members plan to stay for life. leave early go roam sleep in sleep out star gaze dream big wander more care less beat sunrise chase sunset do it all. on us. get your first month's payment plus five years wear and tear coverage. make the most of summer... with volvo. >> hillary clinton rolling out the score against the republicans in the latest polling. according to the news cnn opinion research poll clinton looks dominant leading jeb bush, the republican who comes closest, by 13 points. it's clinton, 54 bush 41. against marco rubio, clinton's lead is 16 points. 56-40 against rubio. she leads chris christie by that same margin. 55-39. scott walker, 57-40. against the donald 59-35. we'll be right back. econds. and once you find it you can switch it right on again. you're back! freeze it, only from discover. get it at discover.com. you pay your auto insurance premium every month on the dot. you're like the poster child for paying on time. and then one day you tap the bumper of a station wagon. no big deal... until your insurance company jacks up your rates. you freak out. what good is having insurance if you get punished for using it? hey insurance companies, news flash. nobody's perfect. for drivers with accident forgiveness, liberty mutual won't raise your rates due to your first accident. see car insurance in a whole new light. liberty mutual insurance. >> so in many ways last week was simply a culmination of a lot of work that we've been doing since i came into office. how am i going to spend whatever political capital that i've built up? the list is long and my instructions to my team and my instructions to myself have always been that we are going to squeeze every last ounce of progress that we can make when i have the privilege -- as long as i have the privilege of holding this office. >> well there's one cool president. president obama said he's not finished yet. after a string of hit toric victories last week his winning streak continues. today the president made clear he plans to spend his political capital and played his hot hand again today with a historic announcement, this time on foreign policy. he announced today that the united states and cuba will re-establish diplomatic relagedzs for the first time since 1961 and will open embazzies in each other capitals. let's watch. >> today, i can announce that the united states has agreed to formally re-establish diplomatic relations with the republic of cuba, and re-open embassies in our respective countries. this is an historic step forward to normalize our relations with the cuban government and people. we don't have to be imprisoned by the past. when something isn't working, we can and will change. later this summer secretary kerry will travel to havana to raise our flag over our embassy. this is what change looks like. >> well said. 59% of the americans approve of the decision to normalize relations with cuba. david axelrod, sewn yor adviser to president obama and david corn, washington bureau chief for mother jones magazine both are msnbc political analysts. david, you're the expert on the legacy question, but in terms of the environment, a big issue with the president, marriage equality, clearly health care issues, all kinds of issues climate change he's concerned about trade. this is a big one in terms of reaching out and trying to bring the world closer together. how do you see it? >> well i see it as the president moving america into the 21st century. you know he was born the year that we broke off diplomatic relations with cuba. that was 53 years ago. the idea was to isolate cuba and change its policies. it also was a time when cuba was a client state of the soviet union, an outpost 90 miles from the american shore, so there was some justification for the policies we've had. we've tried for 53 years to change their policies by shunning them. now he's chosen engagement. and as you pointed out, most americans agree that's the way to go. >> couple ways to look at this. from the left where you come from, the progressive side of things, it seems to me that this is approaching a communist government. do you see it's a way to bring them down? some of the writers, on the right say this is encouraging, and embracing castro? >> the one thing that's undeniable is that half a century of this policy has not worked. cube cuba, i've written about this. i have friends and authors down there that can't do what they want to do. they don't have internet access. so isolating them and preventing u.s. citizens to cuba hasn't worked. so i'm all for trying something else, as are a lot of younger cuban americans and most americans. it can't be any worse or have less results than what we've done for the last five decades. i've been down there a couple of times, cubans tend to like americans. >> what kind of deal did you have to strike to get through that government? did you have to answer -- >> no i went down in 1994 when the baltimore orioles were playing the cuban national team to cover it as a journalist. >> as a sports reporter? >> exactly. it was a great trip. >> i'm not going to play games, do you like the castro government. >> no, you don't have to do that. journalists can go educational trips can go. now more americans will be able to go. hopefully everyone. i think at that point in time it's going to be hard for the government to keep the walls up. >> peggy noonan wrote a great column saying she sort of likes this approach from a conservative point of view, because her dream is castro in his last moments of life looking out his bedroom window and seeing some kid with an iphone, that the future has arrived and it's about freedom of communication and a new kind of life that they don't have down there. is that your sense that he's going to get shocked by opening the door to us? >> you think that not only -- we may havecastro cube and cuba but it's going to be hard to maintain the regime they've had there for the last 50 years. i think one of the interesting developments here. peg many of the other republicans candidates for president took the other road and strongly over-perform posed this action. but the republican congress is talking about not funding our embassy this. so in all these instances that you mentioned over the last week, all this progress you see, the president pushing america forward and the republican party trying to draw america back. and elections are always about the future. americans look to the future. i think that's a losing strategy for the republican party. maybe a winning strategy in republican primaries, it's a losing strategy in a general election. >> unless castro does something trouble, you think you're right. >> republicans wasted no time voicing opposition. marco rubio, wh