GOP DEBATES: Donald Trump REFUSES To Pledge He’ll Make No Third Party Run

Last night the first two major Republican Party primary debates were held and by many accounts these were the best two debates held for years. But they were Republican debates and when candidates were asked to pledge not to run third party one candidate refused to make the pledge. And we all can guess who that was, right?

Right at the top of the first tier debate held Thursday evening, the Fox News hosts asked if the ten top polling candidates would pledge not to run third party if they don’t get the nomination.

“Gentlemen, we know how much you love hand raising questions so we promise this is the only one tonight,” Fox News’ Bret Baier opened the debate by asking. “The only one. Is there anyone on stage—can I see hands—who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican Party and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person? Again, we’re looking for you to raise your hand now, raise your hand now if you won’t make that pledge tonight.”

Trump raised his hand.

“Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump, to be clear, you’re standing on a Republican—“ Baier started to follow up.

“I fully understand,” Trump said.

“The place where the RNC will give the nominee the nod,” Baier interrupted.

“I fully understand,” Trump said again.

“And the experts say an independent run would almost certainly hand the race over the Democrats and likely another Clinton. You can’t say tonight that you can make that pledge?” Baier followed up.

“I cannot say,” Trump responded. “I have to respect the person that if it’s not me, the person that wins. If I do win–and I’m leading by quite a bit–that’s what I want to do. I can totally make the pledge if I’m the nominee. I am discussing it with everybody. But I’m talking about a lot of leverage. We want to win and we will win. But I want to win as the Republican. I want to run as the Republican nominee.”

…”I will not make the pledge at this time,” Trump replied.

And then Senator Rand Paul jumped on Trump’s refusal pointing out that this proves that Trump has no political principles.

“This is what’s wrong. He buys and sells politicians of all stripes,” Paul said of Trump.

“He’s already hedging his bet, okay?” Paul added. “If he doesn’t run as an Republican, maybe he supports Clinton or maybe he runs as an independent. But I tell you, he’s already hedging his bets because he’s used to buying politicians.”

So, there you have it. Trump won’t eschew a third party run if he doesn’t win the nomination…. at least now. So, what do you think?

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Here is a link to the full transcript of the August 6 GOP debate in case you’d like to track down the exact words used by your favorite candidate.

Warner Todd Huston

Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago-based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com, BigJournalsim.com and all Breitbart News' other sites, RightWingNews.com, CanadaFreePress.com, and many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs across the country to discuss his opinion editorials and current events as well as appearing on TV networks such as CNN, Fox News, Fox Business Network, and various Chicago-based news programs. He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the book "Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture" which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of PubliusForum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston and follow him on Twitter, on Google Plus , and Facebook.

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