By DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) – Fear and loathing is striking congressional Republicans faced with the distinct possibility of Donald Trump as their presidential nominee.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham says his party has lost it and calls Trump a “nut job.” Graham maintains that the billionaire businessman would inflict as much damage to the GOP as the iceberg did to the Titanic.
Republicans share a palpable fear that Trump would alienate Hispanics, minorities, independents and women, driving them to vote Democratic in November. That would cost the GOP the presidency, its Senate majority and suddenly competitive House seats. With the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the ideological balance of the Supreme Court for decades also is at stake.
GOP incumbents clearly understand that the only option is to run a flawless campaign.
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