Donald Trump has finally put to rest an idea that pretty much only he took seriously.
Trump announced Friday on Twitter that he will not be a candidate in New York’s gubernatorial race this year, ending months of speculation that should have been dismissed by anyone even remotely familiar with the reality television star’s outlandish career.
“While I won’t be running for Governor of New York State, a race I would have won, I have much bigger plans in mind- stay tuned, will happen!” Trump wrote.
The tweet captured both Trump’s arrogance and delusion. A poll released last week not only showed that most New Yorkers don’t like him, but that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) would have triumphed easily had the two squared off.
Rumors of a possible gubernatorial bid began last fall, when New York Post columnist Fred Dicker wrote that Republicans in the state were urging Trump to run. Trump, of course, said he was “very flattered” by the idea and did his part to keep the speculation alive.
In December, Trump promised that a decision was coming “pretty soon.” But even Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidante, was dismissive of the idea.
“This is the bluest of blue states,” Stone told TPM last year. “It’s an uphill climb.”
Stone suggested that the 2016 presidential election would be a “better race” for Trump, who publicly and farcically flirted with a 2012 White House bid.
Then, as now, he surprised no one when he ultimately ruled out a run. And then, as now, he insisted that he would have emerged victorious.
