Obama: GOP contest 'a circus' and 'a crackup'

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says Donald Trump's positions aren't different from those of the other Republican presidential candidates - he's just more provocative in talking about them.

Obama weighed in on the 2016 presidential campaign during a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Obama says Trump's positions on immigration and other issues aren't that different from those of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Obama calls the GOP primary a "circus" and a "Republican crackup" resulting from GOP actions. Obama says he takes responsibility for failing to bridge political divides, but says he has not contributed to the worsening tone of political rhetoric.

Obama says he believes the Democrats are doing a fine job of working out issues in their primary.