Posted on 08/09/2015 7:25:59 AM PDT by conservativejoy
From the very beginning of the first GOP presidential debate, Donald Trump was in the spotlight and under fire from Fox News commentators. The first question asked for a show of hands of all candidates who would not pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee. Only Donald Trump raised his hand, which led to the first of many confrontations during the debate. He was challenged by moderator Brett Baier and lambasted by Senator Rand Paul for buying and selling politicians. While Trump declared that he wants to run as the Republican nominee, he is wise to keep his options open.
The Republican establishment is terrified of Trump, who can finance a third party campaign and is independent of special interests. They will continue to mercilessly attack him, hence Trump is smart to maintain leverage and keep open the third party alternative.
It may also provide a needed choice for the American people. If the presidential nominees are Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Jeb Bush, or another RINO, Trump should enter the race to give voters a real alternative. The last thing the country needs is another Bush or Clinton in the White House.
In fact, in a three-way race between Clinton, Bush and Trump, there is a possibility that Trump may win. There is great dissatisfaction with political dynasties and millions of Americans would refuse to vote for either Clinton or Bush, giving a well-funded third party candidate like Trump a chance.
There is certainly precedent for a strong third party candidacy. In 1992, Texas businessman Ross Perot was leading the presidential race before he exited amid claims that he did not want to throw the election into the House of Representatives. He later said he left the race because he was concerned that Republicans were planning to disrupt his daughters wedding. When he returned to the campaign months later, his prospects were severely diminished. Nevertheless, he finished with almost 19% of the vote, the highest third party total since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.
Unlike Perot, who destroyed his chances when he abandoned the race, Trump would be a more formidable third party contender. He has universal name recognition, billions of dollars to spend, and no need to placate special interests or big donors. Clearly, the GOP establishment, and their media lapdogs, will try to destroy his chances. This is exactly what happened during the Fox News debate. After being immediately confronted on the third party question, Trump spent the rest of the debate fending off queries about his bankruptcies, his stand on abortion and Obamacare, his treatment of women, and his previous support of Democrat candidates. Throughout it all, Trump stayed on the offensive and refused to apologize.
This stance was extremely popular with the vast conservative audience of the Drudge Report website. After 531,000 votes were tabulated, Trump was declared the winner by over 45% of the voters, far outpacing second place finisher Senator Ted Cruz who received just 14% of the vote. While the public loved Trump's performance, so-called experts such as analyst Charles Krauthammer and pollster Frank Luntz panned The Donald's showing. In true Trump fashion, he blasted Luntz as a low class slob.
Clearly, Trump's best chance for victory would be as the GOP nominee. Obviously, he would prefer to win the Republican nomination; however, he may be subjected to impossible hurdles as the race progresses.
While a third party candidacy is not the ideal scenario for Trump, he definitely needs to keep it as an option as the race progresses. It is too early to determine what will happen, but we do know that since Donald Trump is involved, practically everyone will be watching.
A third party wins the White House for Clinton ...
It must be avoided at all costs ...
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Absolutely! What the Republicans don’t get is that we won’t vote for Jeb so whether its 3rd party or lack of turnout, Dems will win.
Something smells why Trump is in the race he already has money and power why would he want to be president ego or something else?.
No third party will ever win the white house without the same third party also having victories in state and local government.
A successful third party needs to be built from the ground up, not the top down.
Blaspheme!
Do you think it is possible that he might have some honest motives & a plan to lead our country out of the mess it’s in?
Could it be maybe he’s sees problems in our country and wants to make America great again? Could it be he’s not a politician and is telling the truth?
As it appears now Trump can win as a third party. Dems and Republicans have it with the corruption, spending, willful ignoring of our own laws, and the lack of any checks and balances. GO TRUMP!
No! It maybe time to burn down this house, CWII could be the rescue of the Republic.
I choose Cruz.
I would vote Trump over Jeb, Christie, and Kasich in a heartbeat.
Just try and stop me. Jerks. Lesser evilers that have screwed us fifty ways beyond comprehension.
Trump, ever the smart negotiator, is using the third party option as a forceful lever against the RNC who know that if he decides to run as a third party candidate he will surely lose but so will the Republicans all over the nation as he drags voters away from the polls, the locals and the party. They have more to lose than he. After the election he will still be billionaire businessman Donald J. Trump. They will be a never to be in power again Republican minority. Its “The Art of the Deal”. JMHO!
Maybe, like the rest of us, Trump is pissed at the willful destruction of our country and would like to leave a better country for his grandchildren. He said going into the race he was concerned about the country his grandchildren would live in. Aren’t we all?
Third Party Is Better Than RINO Jeb Bush
Exactly!
The GOPe Thadded us before. It won’t happen again. I read yesterday that Thad has been one of the most liberal voting senators since he was voted back in. Thank you, GOPe. You made it clear to us that you cannot be trusted.
In Thad’s defense, he did promise to work with Obama:
“A third party wins the White House for Clinton ...It must be avoided at all costs ...”
A third party run will only happen because RINOpublicans continue to alienate their conservative base.
IF they choose to try to win without their conservative base, THEY open the door to a third party that attracts those who are alienated.
As such, it is on the GOPe. If they run another RINO, I welcome a third party run. Pain is a good teacher.
“What the Republicans dont get is that we wont vote for Jeb so whether its 3rd party or lack of turnout, Dems will win.”
YES! And I don’t care if people start the “it’s your fault the Democrat won because you.....” afterward either. I will NOT vote for an establishment GOP candidate ever again.
If it comes down to it that Trump runs as a 3rd and we have Clinton vs Bush well I’m giving them both my 3rd finger and Trump gets my vote. What it bees..
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