In a cherished presidential cycle tradition, Donald Trump is trying to insert himself into the 2016 conversation.
For starters, he gave a sit-down interview to the all-important Des Moines Register, which was published Friday. In it, he took some shots at presumptive GOP frontrunners Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney, while lamenting that he didn’t run in 2012, when he also teased at a presidential bid before backing out.
“I was leading in every poll. … I regret that I didn’t stay in,” Trump told the Register. “I would’ve won the race against (President Barack) Obama. He would’ve been easy. Hillary (Clinton) is tougher to beat than Obama, but Hillary is very beatable.”
He in turn criticized Romney for not triumpihng over a vulnerable Obama.
“He failed. He choked. He’s like a deal-maker that didn’t close the deal. He shouldn’t be running again. He had a great opportunity to win against a president that was absolutely lame, and he didn’t do it,” Trump said. “The 47 percent statement, which was a disaster, is not going away. Romneycare is not going away. All of his problems are not going away. He should get out and get out quickly.”
On Bush, he added: “Frankly we’ve had enough of the Bushes. We’re bushed out.”
But fear not, ardent Trump watchers: A decision could come by the summer.
“It’s too early for me to say,” he said. “I may make a decision to run before June. But I’m strongly inclined to do so.”
