By Philip Whiteside, international news reporter
A former state governor has become the first person to say he will challenge Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president.
William Weld, 73, announced he was taking on the incumbent with appearances on TV news channels and in simultaneously published magazine interviews overnight.
He said: "It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln – equality, dignity and opportunity for all.
"There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great. I am ready to lead that fight."
The ex-Massachusetts governor, who is known as Bill, last won an election in 1994 when he was re-elected with a landslide despite it being a Democrat state.
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He ran again for the governorship in 1996 but lost to John Kerry and tried again unsuccessfully in 2005 in New York.
In 2016, he was the vice presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party – a right-wing party that espouses free market principles and personal freedom.
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His challenge will be the first time an incumbent president has faced a notable primary bid since George HW Bush in 1992
Mr Weld faces an uphill task – while Mr Trump's overall approval ratings have been poor, he remains popular with Republican voters.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has issued a nonbinding resolution declaring the party's undivided support for Mr Trump.
His campaign for the 2020 elections has reportedly raised $30m (£22.9m) in the first quarter of this yeaRead More – Source
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