Health Care

Tea Partiers and Donald Trump: Voices Of Reason On Health Care Reform Case?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 28, 2012, 4:02PM

Jeffrey Toobin's declaration that this week's Supreme Court hearings are a "train wreck" at best and maybe even a "plane wreck" has depressed some health care reform supporters and others to see a silver lining in their signature domestic policy achievement being struck down.

That assessment from Toobin and other court-watchers should have conservatives -- particularly the tea partiers whose No. 1 cause has been the law's demise -- dancing in the streets. Instead, the same groups that staged chaotic protests and heated town hall sideshows in response to health care reform are keeping cool heads, either ignoring the speculation game or urging fellow "Obamacare" haters not to count their chickens before they're hatched.

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Donald Trump

Rick Perry Seeking Endorsement From Birther-In-Chief Donald Trump?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 26, 2011, 8:57AM

Rick Perry, by most measures the current frontrunner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination at the moment, has been chatting with Donald Trump lately.

Team Trump tells Politico's James Hohmann -- who broke the story Friday -- that Perry has called Trump "on 'several occasions." Trump's folks seem to think this means Perry's looking for Trump's endorsement, though Perry's campaign wouldn't discuss the nature of the conversations with Hohmann and didn't respond immediately to TPM's request for comment.

Trump's representative says Romney's calling, too, though Romney's campaign did not immediately respond to TPM's request for comment either.

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2012

Rudy Giuliani Rips Mitt Romney On Healthcare: 'A Mandate Is A Mandate'

Benjy Sarlin | June 6, 2011, 10:37AM

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Is Rudy Giuliani running for something?

On a visit to the crucial primary state of New Hampshire, the former New York mayor took dead aim at Mitt Romney for his Massachusetts health care law, calling on him to apologize to America for inspiring President Obama's own reforms.

"[Romney] can't talk his way out of this," Giuliani told the New Hampshire Union Leader. "A mandate is a mandate is a mandate is a mandate is mandate. Let's get real."

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump Takes On Eric Cantor Over Joplin Relief

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 3, 2011, 8:12PM

Donald Trump stopped by the Faith and Family Conference Friday evening to drop more hints about an independent run for the White House, while questioning the veracity of President Obama's longform birth certificate and taking on GOP leadership over its approach to disaster relief funds.

"Representative [Eric] Cantor, who I like, said we don't want to give money to the tornado victims," Trump said. "And yet in Afghanistan we're spending $10 billion a month. But we don't want to help the people that got devastated by tornadoes. Wiped out, killed, maimed, injured -- we don't have money for them but we're spending $10 billion a month in Afghanistan."

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Faith & Freedom Conference

Donald Trump: I Could Win The Presidency As An Independent

Benjy Sarlin | June 3, 2011, 7:36PM

So much for dropping out -- Donald Trump tells TPM he believes he can win the White House as an independent candidate, keeping his name in the presidential game despite declaring last month he would not run for the GOP nomination.

TPM caught up with Trump at the Faith & Freedom Conventionm after he left a closed door meeting with event organizer Ralph Reed and other social conservatives and asked how he figured he'd do as an independent.

"I think I'd do great," he said, telling TPM he believed he could win the White House. As for whether he'll run, he said it depended on the GOP nominee.

"Let's see what happens with the Republicans, who they put up," he said.

Asked if he was consulting with pollsters on a run, he said "I was leading in the polls when I decided to sign a very big contract -- I was actually leading."

Polls actually showed his support among Republicans imploding right before he announced he was dropping out, but Trump's reopened the door to a presidential conversation recently anyway. As with his flirtation with the GOP primary, he'd have to give up his show to enter the race.

Trump received a warm reaction from the crowd for his speech, in which he slammed Minority Leader Eric Cantor for demanding spending offsets for disaster relief in Joplin, MO and suggested Obama's birth certificate was forged.

Sarah Palin

Next Stop On The Palin Roadshow: Dinner With The Donald

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 31, 2011, 3:42PM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Donald Trump

If you thought Sarah Palin's strange bus tour across the northeastern U.S. is a media circus now, just wait: Reports are coming in that Palin will on Tuesday evening meet up with the PT Barnum of media circuses, Donald Trump.

ABC's Michael Falcone reports on the details:

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Rudy Giuliani

Poll: With Huckabee, Trump Out Of The Picture, Giuliani Leads GOP Primary Free-For-All

Jon Terbush | May 27, 2011, 1:57PM

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and GOP Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney

Despite making virtually no noise about a presidential campaign, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) is the new frontrunner in the Republican primary, according to a CNN poll released today. But Giuliani's sudden emergence is less a sign of his strength than it is reminder of the nebulous nature of the GOP field, one which was thrown into flux recently with the news that Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump would not pursue White House bids.

In early polls of the race, support has generally ebbed and flowed among a handful of well-known candidates -- including Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich -- with little ground separating those in the top-tier. Huckabee and Trump each posted leads in a few national surveys, and with their departure, their supporters have sifted down to the remaining high-profile names.

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Donald Trump

Pay Attention To Me! Donald Trump Tries To Keep Presidential Buzz Alive

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 23, 2011, 2:34PM

On May 16, Donald Trump said he wouldn't run for president. One week later -- and after several days when his name wasn't in the headlines -- Trump says he's having second thoughts.

"I'm not going to rule anything out, that I can tell you," Trump said when asked Monday morning on Fox and Friends if he might be late entrant to the presidential race after all.

He took some potshots at the current crop of Republicans who are running for president, saying, "at this point in time, they're not going to be beating Obama."

Polls showed Trump was in free fall by the time he finally decided to put an end to his conspiracy-fueled romp through Republican politics.

Trump declined to confirm a Newsmax report (based on a New York Post story) that he was offered $60 million by NBC to continue as host of The Apprentice, though he said network management personally appealed to him to stay out of the presidential race so his show could continue.

Trump was asked if he would walk away from the money if the GOP field didn't become more competitive.

"Who knows," Trump said, "stranger things have happened."

Watch:

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2012

Poll: With Huckabee And Trump Out, Romney And Palin Rise In GOP Primary

Jon Terbush | May 19, 2011, 3:20PM

Former Governors Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Sarah Palin (R-AK)

Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin received a boost to their presidential ambitions this week as voters who previously backed Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump went in search of alternatives now that each of the men has withdrawn from the presidential race, according to a Suffolk University poll released this week.

The poll was originally conducted before Huckabee and Trump withdrew, but the pollster went back to respondents who had initially supported those two, and found them breaking largely in favor of Romney and, to a slightly lesser extent, Palin.

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Donald Trump

Ninety Days Later: Donald Trump's Romp Through 2012 Politics (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro and Jillian Rayfield | May 16, 2011, 6:18PM

Donald Trump

Well that's the end of that chapter. Just about three months to the day since he jumped into the presidential fray with his surprise appearance at CPAC, Donald Trump put an end to his crash course through the presidential field by pulling out of the race before he ever officially got in.

What's left is a coarse legacy of racial dogwhistling and policy gaffes that leave Trump basically where he started: a less than serious real estate investor with a reality show. The rest of us are left with a (more) racialized election and sheepish press corps. Here's a look back at what Trump wrought before he decided to pick up the remaining shreds of his dignity and go home.

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump Is Not Running For President

Jillian Rayfield | May 16, 2011, 12:43PM

Donald Trump has announced that he is not running for president in 2012. "This decision does not come easily or without regret," Trump said in a statement, "especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country."

"I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run," he said, "I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election."

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2012

MIke Huckabee Out Of The Running: 'My Heart Says No' On Presidential Bid

Benjy Sarlin | May 14, 2011, 9:11PM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

Mike Huckabee formally bowed out of the presidential running on Saturday, announcing on his FOX News show that he had decided not to enter the race even as he believed he was a top-tier contender.

"All the factors say go," he said, "but my heart says no."

The former Arkansas governor said that he had concluded that he could raise the necessary funds and build the necessary campaign infrastructure to win the nomination, but that he felt an "inner peace" in contemplating his final decision, which he said was borne out of prayer and meditation.

"I don't expect everyone to understand this, but I'm a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ and that relationship is far more important to me than any political office," he said. "For me the discussion and decision is ultimately not a political one ... it's a spiritual one."

In a bizarre twist, Huckabee's announcement was immediately followed by a surprise appearance from Donald Trump, who praised the decision with a wink towards his own presidential ambitions.

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Pres '12

Despite Approval Rating Spike, No Boost For Obama In 2012 Hypotheticals

Jon Terbush | May 11, 2011, 2:12PM

President Barack Obama

The death of Osama bin Laden gave a sizable boost to President Obama's approval ratings over the past week and a half. However, a PPP poll released on Wednesday finds that despite that bin Laden bump, Obama has not increased his leads over the big-name Republicans who may challenge him in next year's election.

Compared to one month ago, the latest survey did not show Obama pulling away from several prominent GOP candidates, though he did maintain his already comfortable leads over each of them.

In the poll, Obama beat each of the six Republicans tested against him, winning each contest by at least a five-point spread.

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Pres '12

Trump: 'I Can See Now Why Ross Perot Dropped Out' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | May 10, 2011, 1:02PM

Donald Trump and Ross Perot.

The media heat might be starting to get to Donald Trump. As he said last night on Fox News, he can see why another businessman who eyed the White House, Ross Perot, briefly dropped out of the race in 1992.

"I feel fine about it. I mean, ultimately, the country supersedes all of it, and I feel fine about it," said Trump. "But I have heard over a lifetime that if you have really accomplished a lot and done a lot, you cannot run for high political office -- and I can see why.

"I can see now why Ross Perot dropped out. You know, he dropped out of the race, and then he went back in a week later. But he dropped out of the race. And I heard from people that were involved that he was just getting hammered, because he did a lot. He did a lot of deals, a lot of everything. And he didn't like it. And I guess he had a second thought, and he went back in. But I can understand it, and it's certainly not that pleasant, but it's something I can handle."

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Donald Trump

Poll: Trump's Support Implodes, Drops Him To Fifth In GOP Primary

Jon Terbush | May 10, 2011, 11:59AM

Donald Trump

Donald Trump's brief run as the "frontrunner" in the Republican primary is over, according to a PPP poll released on Tuesday.

One month ago, a handful of surveys showed Trump trouncing the GOP field, leading all comers by as much as a nine-point margin. But now, after a month of bruising press coverage, the latest PPP poll shows that Trump's support has quickly dried up, as he's dropped back to a tie for fifth place.

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Donald Trump

Former Apprentice Contestant: Trump 'Doesn't Like Educated African-Americans Very Much'

Benjy Sarlin | May 9, 2011, 12:33PM

Donald Trump and Apprentice 2 contestant Kevin Allen.

A former contestant on The Apprentice, whose harsh treatment by Donald Trump drew accusations of racism in 2004, suggested to TPM on Monday that the billionaire Republican businessman's attacks on President Obama's academic record are reflective of Trump's hang-ups over race.

"Apparently he doesn't like educated African-Americans very much," Kevin Allen, a final four contestant on the series' second season, said with a laugh when asked about Trump's recent attacks on Obama. His words contrast with Trump's claim Monday on FOX News that The Apprentice's treatment of African-American contestants in recent seasons confirms that he is "the least racist person there is."

Allen, a Wharton Business School grad, Emory MBA, and University of Chicago law graduate, was "fired" from the show after Trump criticized his "unbelievable education," and numerous degrees from elite universities.

"You're an unbelievably talented guy in terms of education, and you haven't done anything," Trump said on the show. "At some point you have to say 'That's enough.'"

Allen was fired shortly after a controversial episode in which he was ordered to sell chocolate bars outside of New York City subway stops, a job stereotypically associated with African-American high school students. Entertainment Weekly's Mark Harris bluntly labeled Trump's handling of race tone-deaf at the time and said that the show "humiliated itself in regards to Allen."

"By never addressing race head-on, and instead concocting a ludicrous way to turn Allen's intelligence into a liability, the show paradoxically came off as so panicked about hiring a black guy that they had to invent a new standard -- 'too smart' -- to boot him off," Harris wrote.

Allen told TPM that he took the candy episode in stride as a typical competition for the show. "We knew we were being evaluated in part on our ability to sell things and it was a valid sort of path to put us through," he said. But he indicated that Trump's dressing down of his impressive credentials raised tougher questions for him.

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump: I'm Not Racist -- One Of My Apprentice Winners Is Black

Jillian Rayfield | May 9, 2011, 11:06AM

Donald Trump

Donald Trump wants to clarify that he's "the least racist person there is." In fact, he says, he's so not-racist that Randal Pinkett, who is black, "won on The Apprentice a little while ago, a couple years ago, and Randal's been outstanding in every way."

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump Won't Be Taking The Wheel At Indianapolis 500

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 5, 2011, 2:32PM

Donald Trump

This Memorial Day weekend, the starting grid of the 100th Indianapolis 500 will be missing one star driver: Donald Trump, who walked away from his gig as honorary pace car driver following withering criticism of his planned participation.

The Indianapolis Star reports that Trump has abandoned his scheduled appearance in the Chevy Camaro that will pace the race on May 29.

Anti-Trump activists on Facebook and a group of Baptist ministers in Indianapolis had been hounding race organizers as Trump's stature as birther and then Obama college record questioner-in-chief rose.

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Pres '12

Polls: Public Would Never Vote For Trump, Don't Think He's Seriously Running

Eric Kleefeld | May 5, 2011, 11:47AM

Donald Trump

A new pair of polls suggest that Donald Trump's chances of getting elected president are very thin, to say the least, with the public eyeing his potential candidacy with great suspicion.

A Quinnipiac poll released on Wednesday finds that 58% of registered voters said they would never vote for Trump, compared to only 9% who would enthusiastically vote for him, and 26% who would consider voting for him. This score was the worst out of the whole potential Republican field tested in the poll, beating out the 58% who say they would never vote for Sarah Palin and 15% who would enthusiastically back her, plus 24% who would consider it.

In addition, a new Rasmussen poll of likely voters finds that only 15% think Trump is seriously running for president, compared to 61% who think he is just seeking publicity, and 24% who are not sure. In addition, only 28% have a favorable view of Trump, compared to 66% who view him unfavorably -- down from a 39%-53% figure in Rasmussen's polling three weeks ago.

The Quinnipiac poll was conducted from April 26-May 1, surveying 1,408 registered voters, and has a ±2.6% margin of error. The Rasmussen poll was conducted from May 3-4, surveying 1,000 likely voters, and has a ±3% margin of error.

Pres '12

Trump: 'I Want To Personally Congratulate President Obama' On The Bin Laden Killing

Eric Kleefeld | May 2, 2011, 4:12PM

Donald Trump and President Barack Obama

So far, it appears that the most effusive praise of President Obama's job performance in the killing of Osama bin Laden from a potential Republican presidential candidate, is coming from an unexpected place: New York businessman Donald Trump, who has made his name over the last couple months questioning whether Obama was even born in this country and eligible to be president at all.

"I want to personally congratulate President Obama and the men and women of the Armed Forces for a job well done," Trump said in a statement, NewsMax reports. "I am so proud to see Americans standing shoulder to shoulder, waving the American flag in celebration of this great victory.

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Donald Trump

Can't Take A Joke: Donald Trump Reacts Badly To WHCD Routines From Obama, Meyers

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 1, 2011, 1:25PM

Donald Trump

Donald Trump, America's leading dabbler in Obama conspiracy theories, was in for a serious comedy skewering at the White House Correspondents Association dinner Saturday night. Both President Obama and Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers went after Trump in their speeches, leaving the audience in stitches.

Trump, it seems, did not appreciate the attention.

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Donald Trump

Trump On China: 'Listen You Mother F***ers' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 29, 2011, 9:00AM

Donald Trump

Donald Trump has found a new way to separate himself from the crowd of would-be Republican presidential candidates. During a Las Vegas stump speech last night, Trump fired off several hearty f-bombs to a group of adoring fans.

From reports of the speech in local press, the message wasn't much different from the populism-heavy address he gave at a Florida tea party rally Apr. 16, a speech seen as the first "serious" address of his maybe-candidacy. There was one slight addition to all the populist talk however.

Here's the partial transcript, as posted (and edited) by KTNV-TV:

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Birther

Trump On Obama's Birth Certificate: I'm 'Honored' -- But Where Are His School Records? (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | April 27, 2011, 10:43AM

Donald Trump

Beaming with pride, Donald Trump took credit on Wednesday for President Obama releasing a copy of his long-form birth certificate -- but with some qualifications.

"I'm very proud of myself because I've accomplished something that nobody else has been able to accomplish," he said in press conference in New Hampshire. "I'm really honored."

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

But, Trump said, "we have to look at it. We have to see, is it real? Is it proper?" He added: "It is rather amazing that all of a sudden it materializes." And, Trump said, there are still questions about President Obama's background. "The word is," Trump told the press, Obama "was a terrible student when he went to Occidental [College]. He then gets to Columbia. He then gets to Harvard."

"I don't know why he doesn't release his records," Trump said. "Why doesn't he release his Occidental records?"

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Barack Obama

Obama On Birther Issue: 'We Don't Have Time For This Silliness"

Susan Crabtree | April 27, 2011, 10:11AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama, in a rare public appearance on a personal issue Wednesday, scolded the media and those consumed with trying to prove he was not born in the United States.

"I know that there's going to be a segment of people for which, no matter what we put out, this issue will not be put to rest ... ," Obama told reporters. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do. I've got better stuff to do. We've got big problems to solve. And I'm confident we can solve them, but we're going to have to focus on them -- not on this."

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Birth Certificate

Polls Show About Half Of GOPers Think Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 27, 2011, 10:09AM

With the release of President Obama's long form birth certificate on Wednesday, many are wondering why the White House decided to even bother wading into the birther debate long after it had been proven to be a red herring.

One reason, as noted by Obama in a press conference Tuesday morning, is that while the birther controversy is largely considered a fringe issue, it's actually mainstream within Republican ranks, according to several recent polls.

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Pres '12

RNC Chair Priebus Dismisses Birthers

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2011, 1:04PM

Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is dismissing the birther phenomenon within his party's base -- a further sign that the Republican establishment is trying to put some distance between itself and the conspiracy theories still popular on the Tea Party right.

"Trump and the candidates can talk about it all they want, but my position is that the president was born in the United States," Priebus told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, CNN reports.

"I don't think it's an issue that moves voters," Priebus added. "It's an issue in my opinion that I don't personally get too excited about, because I think the more important question is what's going on in this country in regards to jobs, to debt, and the deficit and spending. Those are the things that people are worried about. People aren't worried about these other issues."

2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: Trump, Huckabee Tied For GOP Prez Lead in West Virginia

Jon Terbush | April 26, 2011, 12:12PM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AK) and Donald Trump

A Fox News host and an NBC reality television star are tied as the top choices for the Republican presidential nomination in West Virginia, according to a PPP poll of registered voters released on Tuesday.

In the survey, Trump and Huckabee easily led the rest of the GOP field at 24% each. Sarah Palin placed third with 13%, followed by Mitt Romney (11%) and Newt Gingrich (9%).

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Donald Trump

Veteran GOP Pollster Declines Offer To Join Trump Team

Melissa Jeltsen | April 25, 2011, 12:27PM

Donald Trump

Tony Fabrizio, a long-time Republican pollster and strategist, has turned down Donald Trump on his very public offer to have him join his potential 2012 presidential bid, if and when he decides to run.

According to an email sent from Fabrizio to Trump, and obtained by The Daily Caller, Fabrizio spent the weekend mulling the possibility of working with "The Donald" and ultimately decided against it.

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Donald Trump

Is Donald Trump's Media Blitz Wrecking The Apprentice's Ratings?

Benjy Sarlin | April 25, 2011, 10:37AM

Ratings for Donald Trump's NBC series The Apprentice have sagged the last couple of weeks, prompting a wave of speculation among the pundit class that his birther crusade is turning off the show's viewership. In fact, his viewership has fluctuated wildly over the past several years, making such pronouncements premature.

"Yes, the numbers were down, but I don't see this as a trend at all," Patricia Phalen, a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, told TPM. "There could be any number of factors influencing a decline, if that is really what's happening. For one thing, it's April, and people are more likely to be out. For another, the content of any particular program could be less attractive for the viewer. I happen to be an Apprentice fan, and the latest episode was very, very predictable."

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Franklin Graham

Franklin Graham On Trump: 'Maybe This Guy's Right' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 22, 2011, 4:40PM

Rev. Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Evangelist and Rev. Franklin Graham -- son of legendary evangelist and Rev. Billy Graham -- has listened to Donald Trump talk about his maybe-candidacy for president. And Graham likes what he hears.

"Donald Trump, when I first saw that he was getting in, I thought, well, this has got to be a joke," Graham told Christiane Amanpour in an interview set to air Sunday. "But the more you listen to him, the more you say to yourself, you know, maybe this guy's right."

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2012

Donald Trump Takes Up 40% Of GOP 2012 Coverage As Sarah Palin Fades Away

Benjy Sarlin | April 22, 2011, 10:39AM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and Donald Trump

Statistics wiz Nate Silver analyzed media coverage of possible GOP 2012 candidates and his results paint a dramatic picture of Donald Trump's meteoric rise and Sarah Palin's equally spectacular collapse in the press.

According to Silver's research, Donald Trump has occupied 40% of all coverage of the GOP primaries in blogs, newspapers, television, and radio stations over the last month. His share of the spotlight by far outpaces any other likely contender, only one of whom breaks into double digits -- barely.

That runner-up would be Palin, who has seen her press coverage rapidly decline in recent months along with her credibility as a candidate. Palin occupied only 11% of primary coverage in April, the same percentage as March, when she was eclipsed by Newt Gingrich -- who announced his exploratory committee -- at 19%.That represents a huge drop since November 2010, when Palin dominated the conversation with 51% of all coverage, providing some statistical evidence to the case pundits have made in recent weeks that she no longer holds the same buzz she used to. Apparently it's getting to her staff, who have taken to complaining on Twitter about the lack of coverage.

2012 Presidential Primaries

Poll: Over Half Of Republicans Not Enthusiastic About Any GOP Prez Candidates

Jon Terbush | April 21, 2011, 2:51PM

Former Governors Mitt Romney (R-MA), Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), and Sarah Palin (R-AK), and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA)

In the buffet of their party's presidential aspirants, Republicans aren't finding much that they like.

According to a New York Times/ CBS poll released on Thursday, 56% of Republicans said they do not "feel enthusiastic" about any of their party's likely presidential candidates. Further, no candidate cracked double-digit support in the survey, which left the question open-ended by not providing respondents with a list of candidates to choose from.

Nine percent of Republicans said they were excited about Mitt Romney, while 8% said the same about Mike Huckabee. Donald Trump came in third with 7%, followed by Newt Gingrich (6%) and Sarah Palin (5%).

Read more »

Donald Trump

Donald Trump: I've Said My Piece On Obama's Birth Certificate (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 21, 2011, 9:52AM

Donald Trump

Could Donald Trump be following Karl Rove's advice and dropping his public birtherism once and for all? In an op-ed published in USA Today on Thursday morning, Trump writes that he's ready to stop all the birther chatter.

"I have spoken my piece on this issue," Trump wrote, reminding readers that "many people have the same doubts as I have."

Trump says he's ready to shift the conversation about his maybe-candidacy to something more substantive.

Read more »

Pres '12

Poll: Obama Loses Ground To 2012 GOPers, Leads Romney By One Point

Jon Terbush | April 20, 2011, 12:17PM

Former Governor Mitt Romney and President Obama

As Obama's approval rating has slipped in the past few months, so too have his leads over potential 2012 challengers.

In a McClatchy-Marist poll released on Wednesday, Obama posted a one-point lead over Mitt Romney, down from a robust 13-point edge just three months ago. Obama still notched comfortable leads on Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, though both Republicans have gained some ground since January as well.

That indicates that while Obama enjoyed a brief honeymoon to start 2011, the bump has quickly evaporated, and his reelection prospects remain far from certain.

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Donald Trump

Pro-Lifers: Donald Trump Doesn't Understand How Pro-Life Works (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 19, 2011, 4:45PM

Donald Trump is 100% pro-life. Except when it comes to the basis of Roe v. Wade which made abortion legal in the United States. That he agrees with, 100%.

In an interview with MSNBC's Savannah Guthrie, Trump was asked if he believes there's a right to privacy in the Constitution.

The question is an important one in the abortion debate. Pro-lifers say there absolutely is not a Constitutional right to privacy, which means Roe is a travesty and abortion should once again be permitted to be outlawed in the states that choose to do so. Pro-choicers strenuously disagree, stating that the right to privacy is guaranteed and is extended to a woman's choice to have an abortion or not, the central basis of Roe.

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2012

Poll: Huckabee Still Dominating GOP Field In Iowa

Jon Terbush | April 19, 2011, 3:35PM

Fmr. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R)

Mike Huckabee continues to own the entire GOP field in early polls of the Iowa caucus, with a PPP poll of registered voters released on Tuesday showing the former Arkansas governor winning several hypothetical ballots by big margins.

And interestingly, Mitt Romney emerged as the second choice for Iowa Republicans in the poll, even though nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would not consider voting for a candidate who supported a state-level universal health care law, which is precisely what Romney did as governor of Massachusetts.

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Karl Rove

Karl Rove: I Tried To Offer Trump A Way Out Of The Birther Talk (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 19, 2011, 2:47PM

Karl Rove

Karl Rove, among the big name conservatives who are openly hostile to Donald Trump's birther-centric sort of-presidential campaign, apparently tried to give Trump a rhetorical way out of his talk about President Obama's birth certificate.

On Fox News on Monday, Rove described how Trump apparently took the advice to heart -- and then immediately ignored it.

It's the latest round of the war of words between Trump and Rove, which kicked off when Rove told Fox that Trump was "joke candidate."

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Birther

Trump To Stephanopoulos: 'Obama And His Minions, They Have Co-Opted You' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 19, 2011, 1:00PM

Donald Trump's birther bluster is continuing, with him declaring that he might release his tax returns -- but only if President Obama will release his "real" birth certificate.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, Trump lamented how he would give up his private life if he were to run. "I have a great company. I've done a great job -- which if I run, you'll see what a great job, because I'll do a full disclosure, finances--"

"Including your tax returns?" asked Stephanopoulos.

"We'll look at that -- Maybe I'm gonna do the tax returns when Obama does his birth certificate," Trump responded.

He also added: "I'd love to give my tax returns. I may tie my tax returns into Obama's birth certificate."

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2012 elections

Poll: 48% Of Iowa Republicans Say Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 19, 2011, 11:15AM

Nearly half of usual Republican primary voters in Iowa think President Obama was not born in the United States, while barely one-quarter believe he was, according to a PPP poll released on Tuesday.

In the poll, 48% of registered Republican voters said Obama was not born in the U.S., while 26% said he was. Additionally, 26% said they were unsure.

That percentage is actually slightly better than the national average for typical Republican primary voters, a majority of whom believe Obama was born outside the U.S. In February, a PPP poll found that 51% of registered Republican voters said Obama was not born in the U.S., compared to 28% who said he was, and 21% who were unsure.

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