WASHINGTON ¨C Businessman Donald Trump is ramping up efforts for a 2016 presidential run, adding to a growing pool of potential Republican candidates, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
Trump, whose wealth includes a huge real estate portfolio, several hotels and the TV show ¡°The Apprentice,¡± has toyed with the possibility of running for president before, but never actually entered the race.
The Post quoted Trump as saying in a telephone interview that he was serious about running for the presidency in 2016 and that he would delay his television plans for next year.
Trump joins a crowded group of Republicans who are considering a White House run, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
¡°Everybody feels I¡¯m doing this just to have fun or because it¡¯s good for the brand,¡± Trump, 68, told the Post. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not fun. I¡¯m not doing this for enjoyment. I¡¯m doing this because the country is in serious trouble.¡±
According to recent news reports, Trump has hired well-known political advisers, including Chuck Laudner, an Iowa conservative who helped Rick Santorum in the latter¡¯s 2012 White House bid; Alan Cobb, a former political adviser at Koch Industries, and Corey Lewandowski, a former director of voter registration at Americans for Prosperity.
Trump has ruffled feathers with his persistent questioning of President Barack Obama¡¯s place of birth, education and patriotism, and with his sharp-tongued tweets.
Trump is expected to speak this week at the country¡¯s largest gathering of conservatives, the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.
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