Stunned Trump foes face diminished options at GOP convention

Stunned Trump foes face diminished options at GOP convention

WASHINGTON (AP) — Still shaken by Donald Trump's triumph, Republican and conservative foes of the billionaire can still cause headaches for the party's presumptive presidential nominee at this summer's GOP convention.

[...] anti-Trump forces are trying to figure out how to use this July's GOP meetings to keep him from reshaping the party and its guiding principles, perhaps with fights over the platform or even his vice presidential pick.

Many Trump opponents see the Republican platform, the party's statement of ideals and policy goals, as a place for a stand in Cleveland.

"If the party walks away from any of its clearly cut social, family values issues, it will be an issue," said Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council and GOP delegate from Louisiana.

[...] if delegates make enough of a fuss, a roll call with plenty of votes for a rival vice presidential candidate is possible.

Conservative talk show host Erick Erickson, a Trump opponent, said he expected delegates to accede to Trump's selection, saying that by July, "the phases of depression and anger" will subside as Republicans accept "their coming defeat."

Beth Myers, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign manager in 2012, was not a Trump supporter during the primaries.