Donald Trump decides against running for president in 2012

[News_Editor]

Donald Trump decides against running for president in 2012

2011-05-17 02:28:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- Real estate mogul and television personality Donald Trump on Monday announced he has decided not to pursue the office of the presidency in 2012.

Trump, who is the CEO of The Trump Organization that owns the Miss Universe and similar franchises, has hinted at a possible run for the presidency since October 2010. "I'm totally being serious because I can't stand what's happening to the country. I am being serious about it," Trump said in October 2010.

But it was not the first time Trump considered running for president. In 1988 and 1999 he was also pointed out as a probable candidate but both times he declined to run at the last moment. This time, however, Trump appeared to be more seriously considering a run for the White House.

"After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency," Trump said in a statement released on Monday. "This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country."

It was not clear which polls Trump referenced to, but a recent Gallup poll showed that the majority of U.S. voters do not appear receptive to a Trump presidency. Sixty-four percent of registered voters essentially rejected the television personality and businessman in the poll, saying they would definitely not vote for him. That left Trump with seven percent of voters who said they definitely would vote for him, and another twenty-eight percent who said they might consider it.

In addition, according to Gallup, Trump's image among all Americans appeared to have become more negative in recent months during which he dominated American news networks about his possible presidential bid while focusing heavily on the issue of President Barack Obama's birthplace.

The extreme media focus on Trump's remarks about Obama's birthplace eventually led the White House to release Obama's long form birth certificate in an attempt to stop ongoing conspiracy theories. Trump took credit for the release of the document, although the White House did not specifically name Trump.

Trump, in his statement released on Monday, said he was confident he could win if he were to run for president. "I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election," he said. "I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector."

Trump thanked "the millions of Americans" who joined various Trump grassroots movements and those who wrote letters and e-mails to encourage him to run for president. "My gratitude for your faith and trust in me could never be expressed properly in words. So, I make you this promise: that I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politician's thoughts," Trump said.

"My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country. I will continue to push our President and the country's policy makers to address the dire challenges arising from our unsustainable debt structure and increasing lack of global competitiveness. Issues, including getting tough on China and other countries that are methodically and systematically taking advantage of the United States, were seldom mentioned before I brought them to the forefront of the country's conversation," Trump said. "They are now being debated vigorously. I will also continue to push for job creation, an initiative that should be this country's top priority and something that I know a lot about. I will not shy away from expressing the opinions that so many of you share yet don't have a medium through which to articulate."

Trump concluded his statement by saying he is looking forward to supporting the candidate who is "most qualified to help us tackle our country's most important issues." " am hopeful that, when this person emerges, he or she will have the courage to take on the challenges of the Office and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs."

The U.S. presidential elections will be held on November 6, 2012. So far, among those who have formally declared to run for president are former U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, and U.S. Representative Ron Paul. Incumbent President Obama will run for re-election.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-17

[luckizuchinni]

John Stewart, Jay Leno, David Letterman and all the rest are crying right now. All those easy laughs--gone!

[LaoPo]

The Donald gone...and that's sad for the necessary Republican Sauce on the 2012 election Burger...not that he would have been a good President though but the real fun is gone...

who's next ?

LaoPo

[bulmercke]

Ron Paul's the man.

[LaoPo]

Ron Paul's the man.

He will turn 76 in August; America and the rest of the world need young leaders, not old ones who are with pension.

We don't want to go back to the USSR periods where old men were leading the Soviet Union and creating the cold war.

Just MO

LaoPo

[trisailer]

Ron Paul id delusional, There is no libertarian experiment anywhere in the world, unless you count Somilia. Forget about age the guys a nutcase along with the rest of the teabaggers.