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Trump, eyeing presidency, will join Reform PartyOctober 24, 1999 From staff and wire reports WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Real estate tycoon Donald Trump announced Sunday he will leave the Republican Party for the Reform Party, saying he is "another step" closer to running for president. Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" he is joining the Reform Party, known in New York as the Independence Party, because the GOP has moved too far to the right, and the Democrats are too liberal. He said he will file the necessary documents to change his voter registration on Monday morning, hours before Pat Buchanan, another longtime Republican, is expected to announce his Reform Party bid in suburban Washington. "It's always great to beat somebody to the punch," Trump said in an Associated Press telephone interview.
Trump said he has not decided whether to seek the presidency, though he has arranged to qualify for an early deadline to get ballot access in California. He also has formed an exploratory committee to help him decide by January whether to run. "This is another step in the process. It's another step toward making a positive decision, but I haven't made that decision yet," Trump said. Trump casts himself as a moderate politician who would offer tax cuts to the middle class, ban unregulated "soft money" in political campaigns and negotiate tougher trade deals. "The Republican Party has just moved too far to the extreme right. The Democrats are too far to the left. I believe the Reform Party can be the true centrist party. And that's very much in line with my thinking," Trump said. He has called Buchanan's views "prehistoric," and expects a cake walk to the nomination if he gets in the race. "I think I beat Buchanan easily," Trump said. Responding on Fox's "News Sunday" to Trump's announcement, GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert said: "I would say to Donald Trump and Pat Buchanan, if you want reform, stick with the Republican Party." The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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