Some leading Republican presidential candidates seem to view Muslims as fair game for increasingly harsh words they might aim more cautiously against any other group for fear of the political cost.

So far, that strategy is winning support from conservatives influential in picking the nominee.

Analysts say many Republicans are heartened by strong rhetoric addressing what they view as a threat from Islam itself.

Because Muslims are a small voting bloc, candidates see limited fallout from what they are saying.

Steve Schmidt is a Republican consultant who ran Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. He says the rhetoric about Islam is unlikely to hurt the candidates.

Donald Trump and Ben Carson have been the most aggressive. Other rivals, too, have opposed admitting Syrian refugees or suggested preference for Christian refugees.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press

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