Roger Stone, a Republican operative and a long-time former employee of Donald Trump’s, thinks that Trump still may run for president.
“I have a feeling there’ll be a lot of public pressure on him early next year to consider it [an independent run], especially as the field continues as it is, which is to say uninspiring,” Stone tells National Review Online.
He says that there could be “a clamor” for a Trump run if the voters don’t see signs than any of the GOP candidates will beat Obama.
“I did do some research, and you can be as late as June, and still get on the ballot as an independent presidential candidate in all 50 states without using any of the existing minor parties,” Stone says.
In Stone’s mind, another factor in favor of an independent run would be that his view of Trump as more of a Ross Perot figure than a candidate the GOP establishment could favor.
Stone admits that if asked today, Trump wouldn’t consider entering the presidential race in 2012. But Stone remains optimistic. “Never say never. Who knows what next year will bring?”