Donald Trump Readying Third-Party Run?
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Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Donald Trump’s top political adviser told ABC News he’s speaking to “high-level political operatives” to explore a third-party bid for the real estate mogul, in a sign that Trump may not quite be done with the 2012 presidential race just yet.
“I can confirm that over the past two weeks I have spoken with many high-level political operatives, campaign managers, finance directors — some of whom I have spoken to in the past. Most are new people from all the country,” said Michael Cohen, executive vice president at the Trump Organization and special counsel to the reality TV star.
“Until such time as he makes that decision, I am exploring on his behalf the possibilities of ensuring Mr. Trump appears on the ballot in all states, and to develop a team of professionals who could ensure a potential victory,” Cohen added.
Back in March, Cohen met with Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn and 18 political operatives, activists and fundraisers in Iowa, but Trump decided not to run.
Trump himself indicated this weekend that he may pursue a third-party run.
“It’s a very sad situation what’s happening to the country,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation. “I hope I don’t have to, but I may absolutely.”
Cohen told ABC on Monday that Trump’s preference is to endorse a Republican candidate “as he loves what it is that he’s currently doing,” but if the Republican Party doesn’t nominate someone who The Apprentice star feels is capable of defeating President Obama, “he may consider running as an independent for the presidency.”
Trump’s contract with NBC ends after The Apprentice season finale in May, after which the TV star will reconsider his decision.
The real estate tycoon-turned-reality TV host switched his party affiliation from Republican to “unaffiliated” in December and hinted that he might reach out to Americans Elect, an online, independent presidential nominating organization.
Trump has been flirting with the idea of running for president for nearly two decades. He first suggested running on the Republican ticket in 1988. A decade later, in 1999, he again said he was serious about running, except at that time it would be on the Reform Party ticket. In 2007, Trump floated the idea of Oprah Winfrey as his running mate.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio