MAJOR POLITICAL INTRIGUE – AT 10:53 A.M. ET: A lot of political buzz this Memorial Day morning over a tweet by conservative editor Bill Kristol predicting, not advocating, but predicting, a third-party candidate soon. From Fox:
Donald Trump took to Twitter Sunday night to slam fresh predictions from Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol that an independent candidate would soon be entering the race for president, warning that a 2016 “spoiler” could swing the race to the Democrats.
Kristol, along with other conservative pundits, long has been working to attract an independent candidate to run in November amid lingering concerns in some wings of the Republican Party about Trump’s conservative credentials. This effort to date has struggled to recruit a willing candidate, while running into logistical hurdles -- including the rules and deadlines for getting new names on the ballot.
Yet on Sunday, Kristol teased a forthcoming announcement, saying on Twitter:
Just a heads up over this holiday weekend: There will be an independent candidate--an impressive one, with a strong team and a real chance.
This prompted the flurry of tweets from presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, whose claim to the nomination was affirmed last week with a fresh Associated Press tally that showed him with more than the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch it. Trump, while taking some personal shots at Kristol for good measure, warned that an independent bid could hurt the GOP in the fall.
If dummy Bill Kristol actually does get a spoiler to run as an Independent, say good bye to the Supreme Court!
COMMENT: The speculation flows. Who is the Kristol candidate? Does he...or she...actually exist, or is it a taunt? Trump can refer to Kristol as a dummy, in his low-class style of demeaning anyone who criticizes him, but the fact is that Kristol, whether you agree with him or not, is a smart, sophisticated political observer.
At the same time, if Kristol really has no one, it will hurt him severely. I can't believe he'd risk that.
May 30, 2016 |