Trump’s Deadline to Rule Out A Third Party Bid: Sept. 30

WMAL ^ | August 25, 2015

[Yo-Yo]

You know, the primaries are the parties deciding who their candidate will be in the General Election. So I never understood why primary elections were held using state polling places, under state election laws. If the Republicans want to choose their candidate by drawing straws, or arm wrestling, they should be free to do so.

In any case, what would the consequences be to Trump if he pledges to support the Republican nominee in South Carolina, but 9 months from now decides to run in the General Election as an independent? Will he be locked up in stockades in the public square with a sign reading "Liar" around his neck?

[txhurl]

I like to think a whole buncha Unipartiers have committed high jinx at Trump properties.... all captured on video. Imagine you’re Linda Graham or John Boehner and you get an envelope in your IN box, already opened, of you in a compromised position.

[RoosterRedux]

If not tonight, he will address it when he is in Greenville SC at a sold out rally this Thursday (Aug 27th).

[mmichaels1970]

How is this legal ?

I would think it's legal. The party gets to set it's own rules for who it nominates. If people don't like it, they are free to join or start another party.

That said, the language of this affirmation (at least as reported by CNN) seems pretty weak. We can all "intend" to do a lot of things. Intentions change all the time.

CNN is trying to set up a "gotcha" where they can overblow this story as a Trump flip if he signs the pledge. I think he should sign it.

[Longbow1969]

Good, let him run 3rd party. Better he does it now and implodes before he does any damage to whoever the real GOP nominee will be.

No one has a constitutional right to join any political party. Your application can be rejected. If you are allowed to join and use the parties infrastructure, the very least they should expect of you is that you support the eventual nominee and not run against them.

Don’t like it? Leave the party and go make your own party. Heck, there are 50+ third parties already - Trump has plenty he can join.

[cymbeline]

“He can validly sign the pledge now, and change his mind later.”

Seems reasonable since South Carolina just “changed their minds”.

[maggief]

From the article:

Candidates must file their candidacy with the South Carolina GOP by Sept. 30, submitting a form that includes a signed pledge stating to “hereby affirm that I generally believe in and intend to support the nominees and platform of the Republican Party in the November 8, 2016 general election.”

[txhurl]

and use the parties infrastructure,

---

You honestly think Trump plans to use their toolboxes?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I think he should draft a pledge for the SC GOP that they will support him if he wins the nomination. He’ll sign theirs if they sign his.

[deport]

“hereby affirm that I generally believe in and intend to support the nominees
and platform of the Republican Party in the November 8, 2016 general election.”

***************

Hell there appears to be enough wiggle room in that to drive a semi thru.

[stephenjohnbanker]

So do I.

[knarf]

GOOD MEN WIN WRITE IN CAMPAIGNS

I'M ON THE BALLOT FOR SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE OF A SUCCESSFUL WRITE IN CAMPAIGN

D TRUMP NEEDS NO NAME RECOGNITION, NO ADVERTISING, NO NOTHING .... EVERYONE KNOWS WHO HE IS, WHAT HE SAYS AND WANTS AND WHETHER THEY WILL VOTE FOR HIM RIGHT NOW

TRUMP DON'T NEED TO BE ON NO BALLOT.

[Catsrus]

Trump has a team of sharp lawyers. I’m sure they will be all over this.

[Leep]

If there is any chance Trump can be disqualified as a candidate of the GOP i would seriously consider going third Party.

Can he use the word Republican in his new party? For instance, the The Republic’s United Members Party T.R.U.M.P :)

[Abby4116]

I wouldn’t think he would have any problem with the “nominees” (downline) but who knows what platform they are going to push through?

[mmichaels1970]

If there is any chance Trump can be disqualified as a candidate of the GOP i would seriously consider going third Party.

I just don't see that happening. They would face a full-scale revolt and might hasten their complete destruction. We have to remember that these are the same gutless, capitulating, bought-off cowards that we have seen every day. Would they really decide to find a spine after all this time to try to force Trump out?

I just don't see them doing it.

[MNGal]

“... the very least they should expect of you is that you support the eventual nominee and not run against them.”

I agree, except that the GOPe doesn’t play by these rules. Remember Cochran’s race last election? On this basis, why should Trump have to be expected to be anything other than ‘they’ are?

[VerySadAmerican]

As I’ve said on other threads, pledges don’t mean squat to republicans. They’ve made a lot of pledges since 2010 and reneged on everyone of them. Trump should tweet that.

[Catsrus]

Exactly, and this is probably something he can take to court if all the candidates aren’t included in this “intention.”

[Longbow1969]

Ofcourse, he’s a businessman turned polician, so naturally he’d use the GOP voter rolls, contact information and GOTV operation. You’d be a fool to think he doesn’t fully intend to use existing information rather than pay to recreate it all over again. That’s tens/hundreds of millions of dollars of voter info and there is no way he is going to not use it.