Republicans split on votes for Trump
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REPUBLICAN lawmakers, operatives and donors are grappling with whether to support Donald Trump, who effectively clinched his party’s presidential nomination after his two remaining rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, dropped out of the White House race.
As Trump sought to rally the fractured party behind him, many prominent Republicans got behind the former reality TV star and real estate developer, while some weighed their options. Still others said they might vote in the November 8 general election for Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee.
Bill Achtmeyer, the Boston-based founder of consulting firm Parthenon Group, was among those considering a vote for Clinton.
“If she is able to move to the center and think as creatively and thoughtfully as her husband (Bill Clinton) did ... boy, I would have a very hard time, based on what I know today, not voting for Hillary versus what Trump is espousing,” said Achtmeyer, who has donated US$200,000 to Republicans over the past decade.
Another Republican donor, David Beightol, a Washington lobbyist who raised money this year for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, said he was leaning toward Trump because he could not support Clinton.
“I’m not there yet, but I don’t have a lot of choice,” he said.
Party insiders usually quickly coalesce around candidates once they have effectively sewn up the nomination. But Trump’s rhetoric, unorthodox campaign and lack of experience has left the party divided.
The New York billionaire has vowed to deport illegal immigrants and build a wall along the Mexican border. He has also said he would temporarily bar Muslims from entering the country as a way to combat terrorism.
Republican former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush do not plan to endorse anyone in the White House race this year, their spokesmen said.
The party’s 2008 nominee, US Senator John McCain of Arizona, has said he would support the eventual nominee, “who is now presumptively Donald Trump,” said McCain’s Senate campaign spokeswoman, Lorna Romero.
But McCain told supporters in Arizona last month that having Trump at the top of the Republican ticket make his re-election harder.
On Wednesday, fresh off the win in Indiana’s primary that drove both his rivals out of the race, Trump pledged to unify the party and said he was getting calls from people who had criticized him in the past but who now wanted to back him.
Supporters of Trump said he could ease concerns about his lack of experience by choosing a well-known running mate. Representatives Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee and Chris Collins of New York both suggested former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Trump told CNBC yesterday there was a 40 percent chance his vice presidential pick would be a former Republican presidential rival.
Backers said Trump could mend ties with allies of Cruz, who had been his strongest challenger.
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