Trump tries new ‘chapter’ in campaign
As nominee shifts his focus to unify party, many in GOP reaffirm their opposition
“It’s time to quit attacking various people that you competed with or various minority groups in the country and get on message.”
Now that it’s game WASHINGTON on with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump will try another pivot.
The Republican nominee-inwaiting will seek to move past days of turmoil over his attacks on a federal judge by scheduling a series of fundraisers, speeches, and other events designed to unify a divided Republican Party and organize an aggressive campaign against Clinton.
Marking the end of the Republican primaries with an unusually formal speech — complete with teleprompter — Trump told supporters Tuesday night that “we close one chapter in history and we begin another,” and he vowed to properly carry the “mantle” of Republican leadership.
“I will make you proud of your party and our movement, and that’s what it is, is a movement,” Trump said.
The carefully choreographed speech came as some Republicans reaffirmed their opposition to Trump, underscoring party divisions over a nominee who has never held public office and spent much of his campaign attacking prominent members of the GOP.
“To those who support Mr. Trump, I understand disagreeing with him and still supporting him because he’s the party nominee,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- S.C. “I get that. But if he continues this he’s really dishonoring that support.”
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who faces a tough re-election battle in his home state, rescinded his endorsement of Trump, saying he lacks the temperament to be president.
Republicans across the country are expressing concern about Trump.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, one of the candidates vanquished by Trump in the Repub- lican presidential race, had pledged to back the party nominee, but sounded equivocal this week. “It’s just sad in America that we have such poor choices right now,” he told WKOW-TV of Madison.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., delivered a blunt message to Trump: “It’s time to quit attacking various people that you competed with or various minority groups in the country and get on message.”
Trump will try to do that in the days and weeks ahead.
On Friday, the New York busi- nessman has a speech scheduled before a meeting of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, a prominent group of conservatives. Trump and aides also are organizing fundraisers and rallies in Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and other states in the weeks ahead.
The presumptive nominee also will be evaluating potential running mates and preparing for the Republican convention that opens July 18 in Cleveland.
“Hillary Clinton turned the State Department into her private hedge fund,” Trump said.
Hillary Clinton, who declared victory in the Democratic race Tuesday night with a series of primary wins, will return the favor to Trump, saying his reckless comments about foreign policy and personal attacks on women, Hispanics, and political rivals render him temperamentally unfit for the presidency.
“He wants to win by stoking fear and rubbing salt in wounds, and reminding us daily just how great he is,” Clinton said in her victory speech late Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.