October 7, 1999
Web posted at: 11:26 p.m. EDT (0326 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, October 7) -- Saying he wants to reverse the American public's "lack of spirit" after the scandals of the Clinton years, Donald Trump announced he will form a committee Friday to explore pursuit of the 2000 Reform Party presidential nomination.

"We're going to take a very good, strong look at it," said the flamboyant billionaire New York real estate developer and casino owner on Thursday's "Larry King Live" on CNN. He insisted, however, that he will run only if he's convinced he can actually capture the White House.

"If I felt I couldn't win, I would not run," said Trump. "I've got a lot a lot to lose ... I'm the biggest developer in the hottest city in the world."

Thursday night, Trump had dinner with Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, the Reform Party's senior elected official. Ventura has reportedly been encouraging Trump's candidacy to blunt the potential candidacy of conservative commentator Pat Buchanan.

Though a CNN/Time poll last month showed Trump trailing both Buchanan and Ventura for the Reform Party bid, Trump said he was encouraged to consider running for the presidency by polling results he called "unbelievable."

Trump's dream running mate: Oprah

Trump said he expects to make a final decision on whether to run for president in January or February. He said first choice for a vice presidential running mate would be talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

"If she'd do it, she'd be fantastic," he said. "She's a very exceptional woman."

While Trump said he would use his own financial resources to help pay for his campaign, he also said he would accept the nearly $13 million in public financing to which the Reform Party is entitled based on Ross Perot's showing in 1996.

Democrats, GOP not 'hitting the chord'

Calling the Democratic Party too far to the left and the Republican Party too far to the right, Trump said, "We need leadership in this country, and we don't have it right now.

"I don't think anybody's hitting the chord -- not the chord that I want to hear and not the chord that other people want to hear" he said.

Trump, a registered Republican, described his philosophy as generally conservative, including support for tax cuts and opposition to gun control. But he said he was liberal on social issues, including support for universal health care.

Trump also said he would be "tough" on the tobacco industry and believes that stance should extend to alcohol producers.

"Why is it that everybody's suing the tobacco companies and not the alcohol companies?" said Trump, a self-described teetotaler.

Politicians doing 'lousy job'

Though Trump has no previous political experience, he said he didn't think that would necessarily be a handicap.

"I'm tired of politicians being president, because I've seen the lousy job they do," he said.

And Trump, a longtime major financial contributor to both Democratic and Republican candidates, said he believes he could be effective working with Congress even if there were no Reform Party members in the House or Senate.

"I've been dealing with these people for years," he said. "I would be able to bring them together."

Trump says he will beat Buchanan

Trump said he thinks he would easily beat Buchanan for the Reform nomination. He said Buchanan would get only "5 or 6 percent of the wacko vote" if he were the Reform nominee in the general election.

Trump also said he would make an issue of statements in Buchanan's latest book in which Buchanan said Germany was not a military threat to the United States after the Battle of Britain in 1940.

"I think it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," said Trump, who accused Buchanan of being "in love with Adolph Hitler."

The Associated Press contributed to this report, written by Richard Shumate.

Thursday, October 7, 1999

• Trump pondering White House bid to reverse 'lack of spirit'
• House approves bipartisan patients' bill of rights legislation
• Comparison of the health care reform bills before the House
• Test ban treaty in limbo; U.S. nuclear policy on the line
• Dole promises to fight for drug-free America
• McCain, Forbes deny trying to derail Dole
• Recall petition filed to remove Ventura from office
• Memorial wall conceived by Coelho has no names of contributors
• 'The Body' goes to school -- Ventura visits Harvard
• Gingrich motion asks judge to force wife to turn over money
• GOP, Democrats elbow for position on Social Security, spending
• Democrats introduce bill on amusement park safety
• Bush swings for New Jersey GOP
• Buchanan says he's leaning toward Reform Party
• Democrats, GOP agree research tax credit should be permanent
• Bradley proposes relief for working parents
• For Bauer, a world with few moral gray areas
• Using Congress, Bush makes early move to center
• McCain calls on other GOP hopefuls to support 'soft money' ban

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