WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton compared Republican presidential candidates to “terrorist groups” on Thursday, singling out three potential challengers who could have crossover appeal in a general election.

“Now, extreme views about women, we expect that from some of the terrorist groups. We expect that from people who don’t want to live in the modern world. But it’s a little hard to take coming from Republicans who want to be the president of the United States,” Clinton told a crowd in Cleveland.

Clinton defended Planned Parenthood, which is taking heat after a hidden-camera sting, and blasted Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who she said “brags about wanting to deny victims of rape and incest access to health care and abortion.”

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush “says Planned Parenthood shouldn’t get a penny,” Clinton continued, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich “banned state funding for some rape-crisis centers because they sometimes refer women to other health facilities that do provide abortions.”

Republicans demanded an apology for the terrorist comparison.

“For Hillary Clinton to equate her political opponents to terrorists is a new low for her flailing campaign. She should apologize immediately for her inflammatory rhetoric,” said Republican National Committee press secretary Allison Moore.