Sunday Squabbles: Trump Stokes Presidential Bid Rumors, RNC Chair Says Obama Jumped Ship
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Donald Trump is keeping the door open to a possible presidential bid, stoking rumors again today that he could toss his hat into the ring and run as an independent if he does not believe the eventual Republican nominee can beat President Obama.
“It’s not something I want to do, but if I don’t see a person that, number one, is going to win I would certainly think about doing it after the show ends,” Trump said on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” referring to his reality TV show “The Apprentice,” which ends in May.
Trump said he is considering endorsing one of the current GOP candidates. If the man he endorses wins the nomination, Trump said he “absolutely would not run.”
But the millionaire real estate mogul said the Republican candidates are “hurting themselves” and their chances of beating Obama because the “level of hatred” in the primary race is so high.
Obama advisor David Axelrod agreed, telling NBC’s David Gregory that the primary process “isn’t helping” Mitt Romney, in particular, and that as a result the primary race “will go on for a while.”
“I still think he is a weak frontrunner,” Axelrod said on “Meet the Press.” “He overpowered [Newt] Gingrich in Florida with a spending advantage and very negative campaign. He’s still under water nationally.”
But former GOP candidate Michele Bachmann said the often scathing back-and-forth between frontrunners was just “the normal rough and tumble of a campaign.”
“This is normal,” Bachmann said on “Face the Nation.”
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus agreed, saying “tough” primaries such as this serve to make the eventual nominee “tougher and battle tested.”
“History shows tough primaries and a little drama are good for the challenging party,” Priebus said on “Face the Nation.” “I think it’s good for America. And in a few months this is all going to be ancient history.”
Responding to fresh attacks from Gingrich, who said today on ABC’s “This Week” that Romney’s character was a “very serious problem,” Priebus defended the former Massachusetts governor as a “man of integrity.”
“I think all of our candidates are men of integrity,” Priebus said. “Primaries are tough. In the end our party is going to come together and we are going to get serious about beating Barack Obama.”
Shifting the focus to the president, Priebus compared Obama to Italian cruise ship Capt. Francesco Schettino, who allegedly fled the Costa Concordia after it ran ashore and partially sank earlier this month.
“We’re going to talk about our own little Captain Schettino, which is President Obama who’s abandoning the ship here in the United States and is more interested in campaigning than doing his job as president,” Priebus said.
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
Donald, go away. Take Barack with you.
Posted by: ray | January 29, 2012, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Don Chump go away and take Ray with you!
Posted by: jvii | January 29, 2012, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Is he really so oblivious that he thinks that his candidacy would be at all viable? For that matter, does he really think anyone much cares?
Posted by: Dan | January 29, 2012, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Debates are boring. However, if Trump gets into any debate I am watching. He is a laugh a minute!
Posted by: Jim | January 29, 2012, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
For the man who takes himself too seriously, here is another one just like you to emulate. The rest of us just enjoy the humor of this guys inability to smile..
Posted by: Larry Mallet | January 29, 2012, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Leave the third party issue to Ron Paul. He can handle that.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | January 29, 2012, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
Yes, Donald, we’re all aware that your show starts up again in a couple of weeks and you’re in need of publicity.
Posted by: howdymo1 | January 29, 2012, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
Yuck! This would be a disaster for our country. Ego trip, Donald?
Posted by: Alice | January 29, 2012, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
So, does Priebus still maintain that all of these are “men of integrity” if the men of integrity he speaks of are saying the other men dont have integrity??
Posted by: MArc Collin | January 29, 2012, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
It must be time to order more popcorn and soda. This 3 ring circus is most entertaining but does nothing for the political process except make it more ridiculous. And Bachmann says this is NORMAL? It hasn’t been until this new century began. It’s been all down hill since then. Between the outrageous lies of the Swift Boaters and the continuous assinine ads full of lies and half truths, calling these actions normal is beyond comprehension.. Thank goodness for the MUTE button on the TV and the delete button on the PC.. we don’t have to listen to the streamings from the MUCK & MIRE of the power brokers.
Posted by: Grace | January 29, 2012, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Really most of us don’t care one way or another.
Posted by: emerald_sparks | January 29, 2012, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
If Romney gets the republican nod, then I’m with Trump.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 29, 2012, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
History isn’t always a good guide. History didn’t predict one winner in Iowa, another in New Hampshire, and a third in South Carolina.
Also these types of wild swings – well interpret them however you want, but you can’t deny that wild swings show an electorate capable of wild swings.
Going negative works – we’ve known that for a while, but this level of effectiveness is something new.
People very badly want the candidate that isn’t attacked – but of course, that won’t happen – the candidates will be attacked.
Newt as anti-reagan? LOL – laughable, but the attack is working. Out of context sound bites – well it is very interesting that long tirades from ex-wives don’t work – but out of context – preposterous claims, seem to do the trick.
All I can guess is something about technology is making people make snap judgements off bits of information.
Posted by: Robert | January 29, 2012, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
THIS IS REDICULOUS!!!!! TRUMP IS A FOOL WHO’S WRAPPED UP IN HIS OWN GAINS NOT THOSE OF THIS COUNTRY!! HE HAS NOTHING TO LOSE THAT IS SIGNIFICANT!!! SHAME ON HIM!!! SUCH A DUMB REASON TO JOIN IN ON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE!!! HE MAKES ME SICK!! I COULD GO ON BUT HE’S NOT WORTH MY ANGER!!!
Posted by: Kate Ford | January 29, 2012, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
I agree, Donald Trump get a life!!!!Show done so now you want a bigger show!
Posted by: Delores | January 29, 2012, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Will someone tell this stupid DUCK to take a hike. The sight of his smug face makes me want to vomit!!!!
Posted by: Paul | January 29, 2012, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
This is what money does to these guys, they think it’s their way or the highway. This guy especially is so full of himself, thinks he’s a God of some sort and that America bows to him. If you ran as a Republican, you would be soundly defeated, but as an Independent, you may count on your vote and maybe two or three other delusional folks, but that’s about it. You have become entertainment material by the media and thus the reason for even writing anything about you.
Posted by: Jake | January 29, 2012, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
Just when you think you have a contest between Moe and Larry, Curly decides to jump into the fray. Quite cadre of candidates the republicants put up.
Posted by: Martin | January 29, 2012, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
Trump is being paid by the Illumanti to make sure Ron Paul doesnt win. All the illegal tricks that Trump used to become rich will not be alllowed once the honest Ron Paul becomes President
Posted by: steve | January 29, 2012, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
The circus continues! LOL
Posted by: Brave Brick | January 29, 2012, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
Go away! There are more pressing matters in the world and U.S. people….STOP Arguing about sh**T. Plz?
Posted by: Doug | January 29, 2012, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Run, Donald, run!! This is the funniest election I’ve ever seen! The more the merrier! Wheeeeee!!
Posted by: Cassandra | January 29, 2012, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
Look who wants to drive the Clown Car,? LOL!
Posted by: VT Farmer | January 29, 2012, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm
I think all of this is the best thing to happen to Romney. The way Newt has beat him down so badly, he’s learned how to take a punch and come up swinging.
By the time the Obama Billion Dollar Machine comes after him, he’ll be like, “Is that all you got???”
Posted by: CajunW | January 29, 2012, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
Trump is a political coward with a team of uninformed losers around him. He backed the Obama birth certificate issue without realizing there was no possible way reliable evidence could ever emerge. What a complete dunce.
What he should have backed is the scholarly constitutional issue of what a natural born citizen is. Since this was studied many times by congress, there are tons of public documents demonstrating that Congress knew this was a problem that required fixing. But they couldn’t fix it. Trump’s people were too stupid to look into that. He thinks he can run a country? What a joke.
Trump, figure out how to do basic congressional research on a political issue. Utilize said research in public speech/debate. Then I’ll consider whether or not you could run a country. Until then, you are a complete amateur. Wealthy, sure. But dumb as come.
Trump got behind all the conspiracy theorists. He was too smart to get behind well researched positions. What a dope.
Posted by: Ivanna Smahtiepahnts | January 29, 2012, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
I wish he would stop making a mockery of politics. He’s not doing any of this for the good of the country, he’s doing it for money and ratings. Pathetic.
Posted by: mijoje1 | January 29, 2012, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
I’d rather prefer a creative approach, i.e. a quasi Democratic-Republican ticket with Donald Trump as Barrack Obama’s running mate. That may actually work, President Obama and Vice President Trump. Do ya think? Anyone?
Posted by: Evan | January 29, 2012, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
Do a few searches on the Malignant Narcissist and the Psychopath. They’ll tell you everything you need to know about The Donald. I could do an entire psychology thesis paper on this guy.
Posted by: Andacar | January 29, 2012, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
Do a few searches on the Malignant Narcissist and the Psychopath. They’ll tell you everything you
need to know about The Donald. I could do an entire psychology thesis paper on this guy. POSTED
BY: ANDACAR |*******Don’t forget to add Egocentric and Arrogant to you alphabet soup list.
Posted by: michael | January 29, 2012, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
He is so irrelevant!!!!but with that said I hope he does…………………….maybe he’ll do what Ralph Nader did to Gore and Obama will win by a hanging CHAD
Posted by: dlb | January 29, 2012, 10:23 pm 10:23 pm
He is ORANGE … and he thinks he would be a credible candidate for the highest office in this nation????
Posted by: Carol S. | January 29, 2012, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
Please, please, please let him run, we need a new clown in the car!!!!
Posted by: Xanthippe | January 30, 2012, 12:31 am 12:31 am
Idiot clown.
Posted by: Benibiker | January 30, 2012, 1:22 am 1:22 am
Stay home. We need to at least pretend we are serious. First Cain reappears. Now Chump is back. Palin is some where hiding in the wings I just know it. Please cut us some slack and stop embarrassing loyal republicans with the bread and circus clown show.
Posted by: joe | January 31, 2012, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm