With rivals out, Trump takes over GOP reins

Donald Trump assumed control Wednesday of the Republican Party as its presumptive presidential nominee after Ohio Gov. John Kasich exited the race, moving swiftly to consider vice-presidential prospects and plan for what is expected to be a costly and vicious battle for the White House against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump, who has proudly touted how he has self-funded his campaign, said he now would begin actively seeking donations for his campaign and also raise money for the national party, part of the arduous task of coalescing a party deeply divided over his toxic brand of politics.

Party leaders are scrambling to stave off prominent Republicans from endorsing Clinton, but already there were notable defections. The two living Republican past presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, have no plans to endorse Trump, according to their spokesmen.

In the swing state of Nevada, Gov. Brian Sandoval, a moderate Republican and rising Latino star, said he plans to vote for Trump despite some disagreements.

But Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nevada, said that 'I vehemently oppose our nominee” because he disparaged women, Hispanics and veterans - although Heller insisted he wouldn't vote for Clinton.

Democrats rushed to exploit the moment. The Clinton campaign released a brutal video mash-up of GOP rivals condemning Trump's character and fitness for office, while the former secretary of state called him 'a loose cannon” and invited Republicans and independents to join her.

In states coast to coast, Democrats tried to link embattled Republican senators and other officeholders to Trump in hopes the shrapnel from his polarizing candidacy would impair Republicans down the ballot.

As some conservative commentators lit up social media with images of burning GOP registration cards - conservative Iowa radio show host Steve Deace announced he was changing his party affiliation - some party elders sought to quiet talk of an independent protest candidacy.

'Anybody who proposes a third party is saying, ‘Let's make sure Clinton wins,'” said Haley Barbour, a former Mississippi governor and national party chairman.

Trump said he was hardly fretting about whether leading Republicans, such as 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, would eventually back him.

'I believe that the people are going to vote for the person,” Trump said. 'They love their party, but until this year the party was going in the wrong direction.”

Trump spent Wednesday holed up in his New York skyscraper, plotting ways to repair his image and destroy the opponent he calls 'Crooked Hillary.”

He said he was shellshocked by his sudden emergence as the Republican standard-bearer, having anticipated that his fight with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Kasich would continue until June's California nominating contest. Both left the race in the wake of Trump's resounding primary win Tuesday in Indiana.

'Who would have thought that I'd be here and we'd be waiting for Hillary?” Trump asked, referring to Clinton still being locked in a primary fight with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Kasich, a career politician whose sunny campaign failed to gain traction in a year dominated by anti-establishment anger, suspended his bid Wednesday. With Kasich and Cruz out, Trump and his advisers began making decisions about the general election.

So far, Trump has given or loaned his campaign more than $36 million and accepted $12 million in donations.

Trump said he would enter a joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee. The deal would require him to seek support from a donor class he has excoriated.

Trump's efforts could be bolstered by an allied super PAC, the Great America PAC, which the Trump campaign disavowed during the primaries. But in recent days, the group added professional operatives and now plans to court major contributors with Trump's apparent blessing. The super PAC's leaders held a donor conference call that included former GOP rival-turned-supporter Ben Carson and Ed Rollins, who managed President Ronald Reagan's 1984 re-election.

Trump said he's weighing potential running mates. He said he wants someone with governing experience and with whom he has a good rapport. He said he will hire a law firm to oversee the vetting process and that Carson will on the selection team.

Trump said he has his eyes on Kasich. 'I've always liked him and I've always gotten along with him,” Trump said.

Is he on the short list?

'Let's put it this way,” he said. 'He's rising rapidly.”

Tribune News Service contributed to this report