Donald Trump Refuses To Rule Out A Third-Party Run

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts during the first Republican presidential debate at the Quicken Loans Arena Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, in Cleveland, as Scott Walker is seen at left.. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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To kickoff the first GOP top-tier debate, the moderators went straight for the red-haired elephant in the room and the answer Donald Trump gave them will not help the Republican National Committee breathe more easily.

When the 10 participants were asked to raise their hand if they were unwilling to pledge their support to the GOP nominee and not run as a third-party candidate, Trump put his hand up after a quick glance at his rivals.

Moderator Bret Baier pressed him further, arguing, “experts say an independent run would almost certainly hand the race over the Democrats and likely another Clinton.” But Trump held firm.

“I cannot say I have to respect the person that if it’s not me, the person that wins. If I do win and I’m leading by quite a bit. That’s what I want to do. I can totally make the pledge if I’m a nominee,” Trump said. “I am discussing it with everybody. But I’m talking about a lot of leverage. We want to win and we will win. But I want to win as the Republican. I want to run as the Republican nominee.”

His response prompted Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to jump in the fray.

“This is what’s wrong. He buys and sells politicians of all stripes. He’s already hedging his bets on the Clintons,” Paul said. “He’s already hedging his bets because he’s used to buying politicians.”

Trump pointed over to Paul and shot back, “Well I’ve given him plenty of money.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Oh, I so want you to run as the Republican nominee, as well, Mr. Trump.

  2. He won’t be able to say Hillary is short on governing experience since he’s got none.

  3. Make it happen, Trumpstah!

  4. When does Shelley Winters fall through the ceiling?
    What a disaster!

  5. Chris Wallace asks Trump for proof that the Mexican government is sending drug dealers and rapists into the US, and Trump answers, “The Mexican government is clever, while our government leaders are stupid. I was at the border last week and those guys said it, our leaders are stupid, and I don’t care whether you believe it or not.”

    If that’s what constitutes “proof” in Trump World, I’ll stay in my own little corner of the world, where idiotic vitriol (like 99% of what Trump says) gets flushed down the loo with my morning deposit. I have no interest in a world that applauds the idiocy of Donald Trump. True, he’s not that much worse than the rest of the GOP clowns, but he revels in creating a black hole of truth and logic, and that’s more than I can stand.

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