What's happening in Republican Party is historic: Chairman

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Press Trust of India Washington
Last Updated : May 04 2016 | 9:32 PM IST
Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus today hailed the "historic" development after Donald Trump's win in Indiana, saying a non-politician who joined the party less than a year ago has become its presumptive nominee, shattering the dreams of 16 other US presidential candidates.
"What's happening in the Republican Party is pretty historic. When you look at voter registration against the Democrats, it's never been better than in 25 years. Our fund-raising in the first quarter at the RNC was an all-time record," Priebus told CBS News in an interview.
"We've raised more money than we did in 2012. What I'm telling you is that the fundamentals are actually the opposite of the narrative. Now, clearly, when you have a race where you've got 17 candidates, and as of late, two very serious candidates with serious campaigns, it's not easy. It's hard," he said.
The fact that a non-politician who has never run for an elected office, joined the party less than a year ago and has been attracting huge crowds, becoming presumptive nominee of the Republican party - shattering the White House dreams of 16 others in the process - reflects the historic nature of development, he said.
Priebus said it is time to unite the party. "It's time to come together."
He said Donald Trump is ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work and lashed out at Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
"I think Hillary Clinton still has a lot of work just to win her nomination now. Obviously she's in the driver's seat. But yet you do have to win at some point if you want to be the nominee and she needs to figure out how to win," he said.
"She's nowhere near putting boots on the ground. She's got to get to work. But she's got to spend money to win her Democrat nomination," he said in response to a question.
After the win in Indiana, he said it is obvious that Trump would get the 1,237 delegates, necessary to be the party's presidential nominee.
"We have to have a nominee at 1,237, and the delegates on the floor have to vote. But I think the momentum is there. We've got a candidate that is winning in every single state. I mean, a week earlier, I don't think he had lost a county in six states," he told CNN in another interview.
"Look where they're at. I mean, Hillary Clinton, she can't win a state. She's going to have to win somewhere if she's going to be the nominee of the Democratic Party. I mean, is going to win again, I'm not sure," he said.
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First Published: May 04 2016 | 9:32 PM IST