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 As Trump sought to rally the fractured party behind him, many
prominent Republicans got behind the reality TV star and real estate
developer, while some weighed their options. Still others said they
might vote in the Nov. 8 general election for Hillary Clinton, the
likely Democratic nominee.
Bill Achtmeyer, the Boston-based founder of consulting firm
Parthenon Group, was among those weighing a possible for vote for
Clinton.
"If she is able to move to the center and think as creatively and
thoughtfully as her husband 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 $200,000 to
Republicans over the last decade.
Another Republican donor, David Beightol, a Washington lobbyist who
raised money this year for the presidential bid of former Florida
Governor Jeb Bush, said he was leaning toward voting for Trump
because he could not support Clinton.
"I'm not there yet, but I don't have a lot of choice," Beightol
said.
 In most U.S. elections cycles, party insiders quickly coalesce
around candidates once they have effectively sewn up the nomination.
But Trump's bombastic rhetoric, unorthodox campaign and his lack of
experience in government have left the party divided.
Trump has vowed to deport illegal immigrants and build a wall along
the Mexican border. He 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 told the Texas Tribune.
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 now wanted to back him.Trump supporters 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 U.S. Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice.
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Rice could not be reached immediately for comment.
Backers also said Trump could mend ties with allies of Cruz, who had
been his strongest challenger and had trumpeted himself as a true
conservative, by meeting with lawmakers in person after a heated
campaign in which Trump dubbed his rival "Lyin' Ted."
Cruz's supporters on Capitol Hill have ties to conservative
activists and the Tea Party, groups that could help Trump raise
money and turn out voters. DesJarlais said meeting Trump in person
would improve their impressions of him.
Representative Raul Labrador, a Cruz backer and conservative leader
from Idaho, told a radio station he saw Trump as favoring the
political "establishment" even though he ran as an outsider. But he
said Trump would likely appoint a conservative to the U.S. Supreme
Court, a priority for many on the political right.
"With Clinton, there is no chance," Labrador said. "In my opinion,
there's just no choice between the two."
(Reporting by Emily Stephenson, Ginger Gibson and Susan Cornwell;
Additional reporting by Grant Smith and Sharon Bernstein; Editing by
Leslie Adler)
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