Will Republicans Unify?; Toned- Down Trump Trying to Reassure Anxious GOP
BLITZER: Anxious Republicans are hoping a tone-downed Donald Trump can move his presidential campaign forward from the uproar he sparked with his racial criticism of a federal judge. But some top Republicans are still keeping Trump at arm's length, while others are repudiating him. CNN's Phil Mattingly is joining us now. Phil, Donald Trump is trying to reassure his party. What's the latest?</s>PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, and it's a party that really needs reassurance, Wolf. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke for just about everybody yesterday when he told reporters it's time for Trump to, quote, "get on message." Now, that's exactly what Trump did last night. Wolf, I've been talking to top GOP officials, some lawmakers and donors today. One real question remains. How long will this last?</s>DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will make you proud of your party and our movement.</s>MATTINGLY (voice-over): Donald Trump is trying to turn the corner in the wake of widespread inter-party condemnation of his attacks on the ethnicity of a federal judge.</s>SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R), MAINE: I would like to be able to endorse Donald Trump, but he really has to change the approach that he has taken.</s>MATTINGLY: Trump seeking to calm GOP jitters, offering this pledge Tuesday night.</s>TRUMP: You've given me the honor to lead the Republican Party to victory this fall. I understand the responsibility of carrying the mantel, and I will never, ever let you down.</s>MATTINGLY: This speech marks Trump's effort to end, or at least pause, two days of internal GOP heartburn and very public backlash over his attacks on Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is overseeing a lawsuit against the billionaire involving his now-defunct Trump University. Trump accusing the judge of bias because of his Mexican heritage.</s>TRUMP: He's a Mexican. We're building a wall between here and Mexico.</s>MATTINGLY: Trump's remarks, crafted by a close group of family and advisors, come after a day of back-channel phone calls, warnings and pleas from top GOP officials, sources say. Trump backer and defender New Jersey Governor Chris Christie among those who worked on Trump's remarks, which today earned high marks from some Senate Republicans.</s>SEN. TIM SCOTT (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I think he's done a good job in the last 24 hours of realizing the impact of those comments. I think it shows leadership when he takes responsibility and walks those comments back.</s>MATTINGLY: The more telegraphed approach comes hours after Trump released a statement saying his comments about the judge, quote, "have been misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage." But for some, it's too late. Republican Senator Mark Kirk, facing a tough reelection fight in his home state of Illinois, says Trump, quote, "has not demonstrated the temperament necessary to assume the greatest office in the world." Conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt adding that the party should renew its search for a Trump alternative.</s>HUGH HEWITT, CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO HOST: It's like ignoring stage four cancer. You can't do it. You've got to go attack it. And right now, the Republican Party is facing -- the plane is headed towards the mountain after the last 72 hours.</s>MATTINGLY: Others in the party are encouraging Trump to pivot to the general election and fast.</s>SEN. DAN COATS (R), INDIANA: Biggest thing for Donald Trump, to shift from the thought of the moment, spontaneously uttered, to a more disciplined way of running a campaign for president of the United States.</s>MATTINGLY: And Wolf, it's important to note that this goes beyond just messaging. I spoke with one senior Republican donor this afternoon who made it very clear: not only are donors reluctant to associate themselves right now with Trump because of his tone; they're also wary of the complete lack of finance infrastructure his campaign holds. Now, this donor said Trump is facing a shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars compared to Hillary Clinton. That is a major problem. One Trump will take the first steps towards really addressing tomorrow, sources say, when he will personally meet with 60 donors here in New York City, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: We'll stand by to hear from that, as well. All right. Thanks very much. Phil Mattingly reporting. Gloria, what does it say about the state of the party right now that the House speaker, Paul Ryan, calls Donald Trump's comments racist, then the next day confirms his support for Trump's candidacy?</s>BORGER: I think it's a mess, Wolf. I think what we're seeing is stunning, astonishing. I don't know any other -- any other way to put it. You had all of these people in Republican leadership, people running for re-election in the Senate, who twisted themselves in a pretzel, having endorsed other people or being on the fence to finally come around in the last month or so, to kind of coalesce around Donald Trump as the party's nominee. And, because they felt it was for the good of the party, party unity, and it was pretty good for down-ballot races, as well. And now what they're finding they have to do is distance themselves to a degree and say, "Look, I'm for the Republican nominee, but I think what he said is completely inappropriate" or, as Paul Ryan said, racist. And it -- it's a very difficult position for them to be in. You know, for Paul Ryan to say, "Look, I believe what he said is racist. On the other hand, I continue to endorse him" is -- is really twisting yourself into a knot that's kind of hard to get out of. And I think a lot of Republicans feel that same way. We saw Senator Kirk actually un-endorse, or renounce him, because he's got a tough re-election race in the state of Illinois. So at some point, as Mitch McConnell said yesterday, this -- this campaign has to get -- as he put it, "I need to see some more professionalism" and need to start acting like they're in a general election context and no longer in a primary context. And I think people are just kind of scratching their heads about this.</s>BLITZER: Dana, are other Republicans in tight races going to follow Senator Kirk -- Kirk's lead?</s>BASH: They might, but they're in a difficult position. Because the further they push Donald Trump away, the more they risk alienating some core Republicans in their states, depending where they are, and you know, kind of the backbone of their vote. They're not going to get people who are tried and true Democrats, so they need to certainly get their base out. And it's going to be difficult. In Mark Kirk's case, Illinois is a blue state, but he -- you know, look, he could lose some votes in southern Illinois, for example, where Donald Trump is likely much more -- much more popular. I just want to also add to what Phil Mattingly was reporting and underscore how much of a big deal this could be, in that Donald Trump seems to be having some trouble with fundraising. I'm told that there is a lot of concern about that, about the fact that he is obviously coming from a place where he has no infrastructure, as he was a self- funder during the primaries, and it is, like other parts of this campaign, pretty slow going. But this is -- this is the engine that funds the campaign: money. And so if he can't get that, if they can't get these fundraisers on the books, it's going to be a big problem.</s>BLITZER: He said in that interview with Bloomberg today he doesn't need all that much money...</s>BASH: Well...</s>BLITZER: ... because he can go on television and save a lot of money...</s>BASH: ... could be a test.</s>BLITZER: ... save commercials, just go out and do a whole lot of television interviews. Jeffrey, what do you think of Donald Trump's potential running mate list?</s>TOOBIN: Well, you know, it's so different than other candidates, because, you know, he doesn't have these prior relationships. He has said publicly that he wants an elected official. He wants someone not like himself who comes from the political system. You know, I thought for -- up until yesterday Senator Corker was the most likely candidate: a distinguished senator, chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, very established citizen. He also ripped Donald Trump about the Judge Curiel remarks. I -- unfortunately, the number of people who have not criticized him for those remarks is so small that he may have to swallow his pride and pick someone who has criticized him. But Senator Corker, Governor Christie, who has his own problems, seems like an unlikely choice at this point. But my money is still on Senator Corker.</s>BLITZER: There are some who think he should pick a woman, especially since the Democrats now have a presumptive nominee who is a woman. Hilary, what do you think?</s>ROSEN: Well, if he could find a woman who would run with him. You know, maybe Arizona, former Arizona Governor Brewer might be the only one. She's been out there. Although Oklahoma Governor -- Oklahoma governor Beth Brewer...</s>ROSEN: ... he publicly embarrassed Brewer with this whole circuit issue with the judge. And I think it will be tough when you have governors like Susana Martinez really insulted by Trump.</s>BLITZER: New Mexico.</s>ROSEN: Nikki Haley of South Carolina defending Susana Martinez. Look, this is not a message problem with Donald Trump, and that's bugging me, that these Republicans keep calling this a message problem. This is actually a problem with how he feels. And until he gets that more honest, more under control, I don't think any of these Republicans are safe going next to him.</s>BLITZER: All right, guys, stand by. We're going to have much more on Donald Trump's criticism of Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Is he wading into very dangerous legal waters? Plus, breaking news, a terror attack: a mass shooting at a popular outdoor market.