Donald Trump is preparing for a possible third party presidential run and his backers filed paperwork Friday to allow him to run in Texas, according to a conservative news site.
Jonathon M. Seidl with The Blaze reported Sunday evening that Trump supporters filed with the Texas Secretary of State's office to create the “Make America Great Again Party," with the intention of allowing Trump to be the party's presidential nominee if he decides to run.
It's unclear if the Trump backers have filed similar paperwork in any other state.
Trump sent The Blaze the following statement: "I am aware and flattered by this filing by my supporters in Texas. I have not authorized anyone to act on my behalf and am not a candidate for president at this time. I will not, however, rule out a third-party candidacy if the Republicans nominate a candidate who cannot defeat Obama and I recently changed my party registration in New York state to preserve my legal option to appear on the ballot in all 50 states if I do decide to run."
Texas has distinct and complex rules for establishing a third party in Texas and for running for president in the state. (One of the rules of establishing a minor party is that the name of the party can't be more than three words so, presumably, the founders of the "Make America Great Again Party" will have to come up with something a little more snappy.) Many key deadlines were recently changed after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay on some of the political maps Texas planned to use for next year's elections. Third party presidential candidates planning to get their names on Texas ballots normally have to gather signatures from thousands of Texas voters. A Trump supporter told The Blaze the paperwork establishing the third party needed to be in by Jan. 2.
Last year, Trump flirted with running for president as a Republican. He then met with most of the Republican presidential candidates, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, prompting speculation that he was planning to endorse a candidate at some point. Most recently, plans for a Republican presidential debate moderated by Trump were canceled after most of the candidate refused to take part.
-Aman Batheja
what a waste of money, he is in it strickly for the looks only. he will completely destroy the chances of getting Obama out of office by splitting the votes
Posted by: jan west | January 02, 2012 at 10:13 AM
So the media circus continues
Posted by: your mommy | January 02, 2012 at 11:13 AM
The more parties we have running the better. We need to completely break down this corrupt corporate controlled two party system. The tea baggers stayed in the Republican party and have proved with their antics and the debacle they have created in the House that they are not capable of governing. If Trump runs on at third party he will pull lots of Dem's, Independents, and moderate Republicans who don't like bible thumpers and tea baggers.It is also be nice to see Johnson run Libertarian ticket. The new American Elect party(rumored to to be waiting to put J Bush in as their candidate if Ron Paul wins the nomination.I would hope that Ron Paul and his supporters would come to their senses and realize that the hierarchy of the GOP will never let Ron Paul become the nominee.The only way they will ever get Ron Paul on a national ticket is to go third party. It has to be done pretty fast Johnson left the Republican party an is now a candidate for Libertarian party nomination.There are also strong rumors of Trump coming out for a run( some fools completely dismiss Trump but you do so at your own peril).Ron Paul needs to get into the libertarian party and take control. America is right for a third party. Americans are fed up with the my way or the highway, no compromise crowd.The Republican party has been hijacked by self righteous bible thumping religious fanatics and tea bagging lunatics. The Dem's can't seem to do anything because of total gridlock due to the Republican party not wanting to do anything for jobs, economy or the middle class people, their only objective is to keep the economy down so as keep Obama from being reelected. I believe that if trump makes an all out run with his money, this could be a very interesting race.We Independents will support any viable candidate that has that has good name recognition and run third party hopefully with a populist platform. Go Donald Trump.
Posted by: packeryman | January 02, 2012 at 11:29 AM
LOL!
Posted by: Billy Bob Thornton | January 02, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Packeryman you have to be kidding with that post! What a joke!
Posted by: Steve | January 02, 2012 at 08:20 PM
Oh my. The clown car keeps rolling. Trump has no intention of running for President. He's already been eaten alive and made to look stupid. This is to get people to watch The Apprentice--AGAIN. When will all the silly people expecting this to happen get it?
Trust me--Democrats signed the idiot up in Texas
Trump is a clown who has gone into bankruptcy numerous times. Lost half of his inherited money and is clearly an embarrassment to anyone with a brain. And no way does he want ANY of his financials perused.
He changes parties like he changes socks. He voted for President Obama in 2008 and has been a democrat, republican--now independent and I'm sure he'll become a libertarian soon enough and vote the socialist ticket in a couple of years and in five he will be with the Green Party.
THE MAN IS PAWNING EVERYONE, but people keep biting like half wits. So sad.
Posted by: AnnetteJ | January 03, 2012 at 10:01 AM