Good Thursday morning, I'm Jake Sherman and welcome to your political playbook flash briefing,

sponsored by the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs.

And I'm Anna Palmer.

When the FAA posted a notice for VIP travel to Louisville Saturday, it was widely assumed

that President Donald Trump would hold a rally to push the new health care bill in Senator Rand Paul's backyard.

Well, we hear it won't be Trump. At least this time, Vice President Mike Pence might be making

the Saturday's trip, but Trump will pay a visit to Kentucky in the next few weeks, according to

our sources. The play here is simple. The Trump administration wants to send a message that they will hit the road to boost their legislative priorities.

Of course, from a political standpoint, they can't do much to Rand Paul. He was just elected to a second term in the Senate and doesn't face re-election until 2022.

But think of it this way. If you're a House Republican who is thinking about opposing this bill, do you want Donald Trump holding a rally in your district? Questioning why you are standing

in the way of his legislative agenda with an election less than two years away? The Trump

administration is trying to send the message that they're game to do it. Donald Trump is meeting

with a group of CEOs of community banks today to discuss financial regulations.

Guests include Cam Fine, the president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of America,

and Rob Nichols, the CEO of the American Bankers Association. Meanwhile, the opposition is

growing to the Republican's health care bill. President Donald Trump may be in sales mode,

but that doesn't seem to be doing the trick to get the health care industry, outside conservatives, or wary GOP lawmakers on his side.

This is not a good sign for Republican leadership's timeline for quick passage of the

health care overhaul before the congressional recess in April.

While Washington insiders have always said that threading the needle on any repeal and

replace package would be difficult, this could

prove to be Trump's most personal defeat to date, or his biggest triumph. It is just too early to say.

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