LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says there’s a need for the party to unite around him, but argues that it isn’t yet time for him to dial back his aggressive campaign style.
Celebrating victories on Tuesday, March 8 in Michigan, Mississippi and Hawaii, the billionaire declared Wednesday that “I am a uniter.”
But he also says he was the victim of “vicious” campaign ads on behalf of his rivals last week and that “I didn’t set the tone of negativity” in the race. Trump says he merely “fought back” and says he has to still run hard.
He told CNN’s “New Day” show Wednesday that he has to “finish off the project.” Trump adds that he expects Thursday night’s GOP debate in Florida to be “a nicer, softer, lighter” event in the wake of his latest triumphs.
Preliminary results showed that Bernie Sanders led Michigan and Clinton led Mississippi. In the GOP race, Ted Cruz took second to Trump in Michigan, Mississippi, and Hawaii and led Idaho.