Hillicans? As Trump wins, Clinton explores how to woo GOPers

OHIO (AP):

With Donald Trump's remaining rivals bowing out of the race, clearing his path to the nomination, Hillary Clinton is looking for ways to woo Republicans turned off by the brash billionaire.

The Democratic front-runner's campaign believes Trump's historically high unfavourable ratings and penchant for controversy may be enough to persuade a slice of GOP voters to get behind her bid, in much the same way so-called Reagan Democrats sided with the Republican president in the 1980s.

As Trump stood alone yesterday after Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich ended their bids, there were some early signs that a sliver of the party might see Clinton as the only option.

"I'm with her," tweeted Mark Salter, a top campaign aide to 2008 Republican nominee John McCain.

Democrats caution their effort to win over Clinton Republicans, or Hillicans, is in its earliest stages, but could grow to include ads and other outreach targeted in particular at suburban women in battleground states. Already, aides say, a number of Republicans have privately told Clinton and her team they plan to break party ranks and support her.

"We have an informed under-standing that we could have the potential to expect support from not just Democrats and independents, but Republicans, too," said Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon. "There's a time and place for that support to make itself known."