The sudden surge of billionaire developer and TV star Donald Trump in
presidential polls has captivated the interest of talk radio host Rush
Limbaugh, who confesses to being mystified at Trump's agenda.
On his show Tuesday, Limbaugh poured through the various possibilities behind Trump's apparently real flirtation with mounting a campaign. One scenario Limbaugh suggested is the theory that the Obama White House wants Trump to run as an independent, much like Ross Perot did in 1992 and 1996, dividing the Republican vote and giving Obama the election.
On his show Rush talked about what he's hearing from his listeners and
friends.
“People are still trying to figure out, what is he doing, what is his
objective? And my e-mail is running the gamut.," Limbaugh said. "Some people think that he's actually running at the behest of Democrats, Rahm Emanuel, to so split the Republican Party, to get him to support, run as a third party or to cause a third-party splinter. Other people are saying, ‘Rush, remember how you were right about Perot? We're looking at Perot 2 here. This is the second coming of Perot,’ and people are urging me not to get sucked in here by this. “
Then Limbaugh talked about the cause that’s propelling Trump in the polls: his aggressive inquiries into where President Obama was born. The so-called “birther” issue has made Trump a new hero in tea party ranks.
“This guy is really going out on a limb,” Limbaugh added. “This birth certificate thing, I mean really going out on a limb for what purpose? I mean people can't imagine he's doing this without somebody urging him to do it for an ultimate payoff down the line. Some people just can't accept that things are what they are. I have no answer. I'm just sharing with you here what people are saying to me in the e-mail. So then, Wall Street Journal website, Kelly Evans interviewed Trump, who's everywhere now. And during a discussion about him possibly running for president, question: ‘If you don't get the nomination as a Republican, will you run as an independent?’”
He then quoted Trump’s answer:
TRUMP: “I'm thinking about that. I'm very conservative. To be honest with you, I think it would be very, very bad for the Republican Party. I could also possibly win as an independent, otherwise I wouldn't do it. I'm not doing it for any other reason, because I like winning. The concern is that if I don't win, will I run as an independent, and the answer is probably yes, and that bothers me only from the standpoint that if I don't win we're not gonna get a Republican and Obama gets reelected.” Limbaugh admitted he was still perplexed, but clearly enthralled by Trump’s new push.
“So why do it? That's an amazing answer,” Limbaugh said. “The concern is if I don't win, will I run as an independent, the answer is probably yes, and that bothers me. (laughing) I gotta get him back on here. I gotta get Trump back on. Cut through all this noise and see what's actually going on here. This is what, Tuesday? I think I can do that by the end of the week.”
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