Trump basks in McCain remarks, says rivals envious of rise

WASHINGTON -- Republicans' swift condemnation of Donald Trump's disparaging comments about Sen. John McCain's military service marks a turning point in the party's cautious approach to the billionaire-turned-presidential candidate.

But Trump simply may not care; indeed he seemed to bask in his McCain takedown.

After dismissing McCain's reputation as a war hero because he was captured in Vietnam and "I like people who weren't captured," Trump declared, "I will say what I want to say."

He insisted he would stay in the GOP primary field, despite rivals who say he's now shown he doesn't merit the presidency.

"It's not just absurd," Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. "It's offensive. It's ridiculous. And I do think it is a disqualifier as commander in chief."

Numerous other GOP candidates, including Jeb Bush, Rick Perry and Scott Walker, were similarly critical of Trump. The Republican National Committee also put its thumb on the scale, issuing a statement saying "there is no place in our party or our country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably."

As the furor unfolded, Trump spoke dismissively of his rivals and the GOP establishment in an interview with The Associated Press, recalling his years of helping to bankroll candidates.

"You know the Republican Party -- of course I was one of their darlings when I was a contributor," he said. "I went from a darling to somebody that they're not happy with because I'm not a politician."

Asked whether he now thought McCain was a war hero, Trump merely referred to his previous day's comments, when he said "perhaps" he was while seeming to mock McCain for being captured.

Until now, Republicans have been largely cautious in their handling of Trump and his provocations.

While officials privately fretted about the damage he could do to the party, they also are worried about alienating voters drawn to his celebrity, brashness and willingness to take on establishment Republicans.

He's emerged as one of the favorites early in a race that is bound to see shifts in the standing of many of the candidates.

Trump has made other eyebrow-raising comments since declaring his candidacy, most notably his assertion that Mexican immigrants are rapists and drug dealers.

Many GOP candidates were slow and halting in their response to those comments, underscoring a continuing struggle to hit the right notes on immigration when they want to appeal to Hispanics without alienating traditional GOP voters.