The Republican leadership on Saturday appeared to be bitterly divided on Donald Trump, who is emerging as the party’s presumptive presidential nominee.
While a top section of the party’s established leadership openly said that they would not support 69-year-old Trump, the real estate mogul from New York gained more endorsement including the former presidential nominee Bob Dole.
At least two of the former presidential candidates — Jeb Bush (the former Governor of Florida) and Senator Lindsey Graham — have openly said that they would not support Mr. Trump in his race to the White House.
But Mr. Trump received major boost to his campaign as Rick Perry the former Texas Governor endorsed him, so did Bob Dole, the party’s presidential nominee for 1996.
“The voters of our country have turned out in record numbers to support Trump. It is important that their votes be honored and it is time that we support the party’s presumptive nominee, Donald J. Trump,” Mr. Dole said in a statement.
Mr. Dole said he plans to attend the Cleveland Convention in July where Mr. Trump would be formally designated as the party’s presidential nominee.
“We must unite as a party to defeat Hillary Clinton.
Trump is our party’s presumptive nominee and our best chance at taking back the White House this November,” Mr. Dole said.
But two former Republican presidents — George H W Bush and George W Bush — along with the 2008 presidential nominee Senator John McCain have announced that they would not attend the Cleveland convention.
Mr. Jeb, who is the son and younger brother of two former presidents, on Saturday said that he would not vote for Mr. Trump.
“In November, I will not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, but I will support principled conservatives at the state and federal levels, just as I have done my entire life,” Mr. Bush wrote on his Facebook Page.
“The American Presidency is an office that goes beyond just politics. It requires of its occupant great fortitude and humility and the temperament and strong character to deal with the unexpected challenges that will inevitably impact our nation in the next four years,” he said.
“Donald Trump has not demonstrated that temperament or strength of character. He has not displayed a respect for the Constitution. And, he is not a consistent conservative. These are all reasons why I cannot support his candidacy,” said Mr. Jeb, who raised a record $140 million for his presidential campaign but was humiliatingly defeated by Mr. Trump in the primary elections.
