Analysis: Pope shines spotlight on GOP minority challenges

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — The Republican Party's tug-of-war over its relationship with black and Hispanic voters was under way long before Pope Francis decided to answer a question about Donald Trump.

On the other, leading rivals Trump and Ted Cruz embrace fiery rhetoric designed to motivate angry white conservatives.

Complicating it all is immigration, the issue the party's pragmatic professionals can't square with the passions of their most faithful voters.

Haley highlighted the diversity on stage with Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, during an earlier rally in West Columbia: "A new group of conservatives that's taking over America looks like a Benetton commercial," she said.

While the question concerned Trump, who described Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals in his announcement speech and later called for a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the United States, the billionaire real estate mogul isn't alone in his calls to build a border wall.

Republican National Committee member Henry Barbour, who helped author the RNC's post-2012 study, praised the minority outreach efforts of candidates like Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.