Posted on 08/03/2015 1:26:30 PM PDT by Mariner
If “The Donald” loses the Republican presidential nomination and runs as a third-party candidate, he definitely could put a crimp in GOP hopes to reclaim the White House.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of Likely U.S. Voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for Trump if he is not chosen as the GOP nominee and runs as a third party candidate. But that includes only 14% who say they are Very Likely to vote for him. Sixty-eight percent (68%) say they are unlikely to vote for the billionaire developer if he runs as a third-party presidential candidate, with 51% who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Worrisome for Republicans, however, is the finding that over a third (36%) of Likely GOP Voters say they are likely to vote for Trump if he’s a third-party candidate, with 18% who are Very Likely to do so. One-in-three (33%) voters who are not affiliated with either major party also are likely Trump voters, including 16% who say they are Very Likely to vote for him if he runs third-party.
Even 19% of Democrats describe themselves as likely Trump voters, although that includes just nine percent (9%) who say they are Very Likely to vote that way.
(Excerpt) Read more at rasmussenreports.com ...
This poll is worthless if it doesn’t include the name of the major nominees. Make the names Busha nd Clinton, and the numbers improve for Trump.
Why would Trump need to run a third party bid, he leads the polls now and increases his lead over “The Twig” everytime Jebbie open his pie hole.
Indeed. I think those Dem numbers at this point are incredible. If he’s getting 20% now, it’s entirely reasonable to think he could get 30% or more.
That... and the fact that he said he would not do it.
I am beginning to consider Trump as a viable candidate. I like the way he just keeps swinging.
“over a third (36%) of Likely GOP Voters say they are likely to vote for Trump if he’s a third-party candidate, with 18% who are Very Likely to do so.”
Wow! That might explain somewhat why conservatives want him as their nominee, so he doesn’t ensure a Rat victory by splitting the vote. I don’t really think it’ll matter unless Cruz is the Republican nominee. If Trump takes votes from Cruz in the general, he’s every bit the fraud I believe him to be. This may be why Cruz is playing nice with him.
Well he might win third party but IMO his best shot is as a Republican. I believe Trump is just using the third party threat to keep the RNC in line. They are desperate to jettison him.
I agree.
And maybe as de facto head of the party he can do a little restructuring and hose out the filth.
None. He won’t run as Third Party and has virtually zero support outside the GOP and Conservative Indies.
The poll may be flawed and inaccurate, but it says he gets 19% of Democrats and 33% of unaffiliated.
He’s not a 3rd party threat he’s 3rd party insurance.
There ya go. Trump may be the only one that can save the Republican party from itself.
Brilliant.
And our insurance hasn't cost a dime yet.
Trumps said.that if.he.loses he will not go 3rd party. But if he wins and the gop plays procedural tricks then he will
Not win just be a spoiler. At best he would split the "non democrat" vote which would make a national election look like:
Dim 50%
Rep 25%
Trump 25%
OTOH if he runs as the Republican getting 19% of the dims to crossover makes it nearly a landslide:
Rep 69%
dims and all others 31%
NO third party is a threat to win.
Depending on how Trump ran his campaign, he truly could draw as much from Clinton as from any republican.
I think he is there now but will still keep the hammer over the RNC's head.
You don't think the 19% goes to Trump either way?
Factor in that, if the GOP nominee is Bush, half the party sits it out. Suddenly a third party is not so funny, in fact GOP collapses.
As for me, Cruz and Palin are my party. If they go 3rd, so do I.
Trump and Cruz are the only two candidates that interest me.
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