Alarmed Republican leadership rally against Trump

Washington: A day after Super Tuesday polls, the Republican party leadership appeared to have ganged up against real estate magnate Donald Trump, who has won 10 of 11 state primaries so far, in a last ditch effort to prevent him from becoming the nominee for the November presidential poll.

After a month of a series of primary elections which began with Iowa caucus on February 1, Trump to the surprise of political pundits and to the shock of the established party leadership has emerged as the presidential frontrunner.

His rallies across the country have drawn thousands of people many more times than the other party candidates.

After Super Tuesday, Trump has 319 delegates with him, as against his rivals: Tea Party favourite Ted Cruz (226), and Marco Rubio (110) who is an establishment favourite.

To become the party's presidential nominee, Trump needs 1,237 of total 2,472 delegates who would be elected during the Republican presidential primaries and caucus in all 50 states.

Trump now needs 918 delegates, which many political experts believe is doable given his national popularity.

Mainstream media yesterday reported that the top Republican leadership is opposed to the idea of billionaire Trump becoming their presidential nominee given his lead and popularity across the country.

Four states - Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine - go to polls on Saturday and Trump is leading in three of them, where victory would bring him a step closer to earning his party's presidential nomination.

Trump on the other hand exuded confidence that he is on his way to become the presidential nominee and that he would unite and expand the party, quite contrary to the apprehension of the party leadership.

"The voters in America will not allow them to be bulldozed, rather they will make sure the Republican career politicians and those who are put up by the establishment in the general election in November are defeated," said Dave Makkar, a founding member of 'Indian Americans for Trump'.

"Trump campaign is a movement to change Washington and throw out the ruling elite and the lobbyist," Makkar said.

The White House too shared the apprehension of the Republican leadership.

"As many Republicans have said, Mr Trump's presence at the top of the ticket may not end up being particularly helpful to them," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

"The divisive rhetoric that we've heard from Mr Trump is directly contrary to the values that this country has long defended," he said.