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In this combination made from file photos, Republican presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., left, speaks in Central, S.C., and fellow Republican candidate, real estate mogul Donald Trump, speaks in Las Vegas.
AP
In this combination made from file photos, Republican presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., left, speaks in Central, S.C., and fellow Republican candidate, real estate mogul Donald Trump, speaks in Las Vegas.
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Republican presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham says rival Donald Trump is a “wrecking ball” for the future of the GOP with Hispanic voters. Graham is calling on the party to push back.

Graham was critical of Trump’s recent derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants and calls the issue a “defining moment” for Republicans. He says on CNN’s “State of the Union” that if the GOP doesn’t reject Trump’s views, “we will have lost our way.”

In a weekend appearance in Phoenix that drew thousands, Trump repeated his assertions that Mexico was sending violent offenders to the U.S. to harm Americans.

Trump’s words are worrisome to Republicans, who fear the outspoken businessman is hurting the party’s standing with the nation’s surging Latino population before voting begins in the 2016 presidential primaries.

Associated Press