Under fire on abortion, Trump fights to court women

(AP) — Donald Trump is fighting to convince a skeptical Republican Party he can improve his standing among women, even as he takes back an explosive comment about abortion and attacks the credibility of a female reporter police say was illegally grabbed by the GOP front-runner's campaign manager.

The plan sparked an immediate backlash from both sides of the debate, prompting Trump to release two statements clarifying his position.

A loss would give concerned Republican officials across the nation a realistic hope of wresting the nomination away from the New York businessman at the GOP's national convention in July.

Frustrated Republicans are privately grappling with fears about Trump's impact on their party's appeal among women and young people, yet few dared criticize the GOP front-runner directly when pressed this week.

Earlier in the week, police in Jupiter, Florida, charged Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski with misdemeanor battery after examining surveillance video of an incident in which a reporter said she was grabbed and shoved.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, in a tough re-election fight, issued this statement through spokeswoman Liz Johnson: "As a longtime prosecutor, Kelly believes Mr. Trump should leave this case to the criminal justice system, instead of wrongly trying it in the media."

The Trump campaign was in discussion with the Republican National Committee about arranging a meeting with Chairman Reince Priebus on Thursday, but GOP strategists acknowledged party leaders have few options for persuading Trump to moderate his rhetoric.