Writer's note: My earlier posting of Newt Gingrich receiving the Trump endorsement was not accurate, as we have learned.
Politico had reported earlier today that Donald Trump's "major announcement" is to come in the form of a worthless endorsement of Newt Gingrich.
The move is a bit unexpected since Trump had talked even within the past few days about how he may be compelled to run a third-party campaign of his own if he didn't see a Republican candidate who he thought could beat President Barack Obama.
Gingrich is the longer-shot choice in a field in which Mitt Romney has re-established himself as the frontrunner after a commanding win in Florida.
Trump was courted repeatedly by several of the GOP hopefuls. Gingrich, when he was soaring in his first rise before the Iowa caucuses, made a trek to Trump's Fifth Avenue office in Manhattan to ask for his support.
However, Donald Trump is endorsing Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney. The same Mitt Romney that had snubbed The Donald late last year for the infamous "Trump debate." Donald Trump is once again inserting himself into national politics, after being absent in what seems to be a lifetime.
LAS VEGAS — Donald Trump will endorse Mitt Romney for president here shortly after noon on Thursday, a source confirmed.
In typical Trump fashion, the endorsement up until the last minute had the flamboyant air of mystery — and chaos — associated with a man who is perhaps best known for firing people on prime time television. Wednesday night, reports were leaking out of Newt Gingrich‘s campaign that Mr. Trump was throwing his support behind Mr. Gingrich, and as late as Thursday morning, several news organizations, including Fox News, were still reporting that Mr. Gingrich was in line for Mr. Trump’s endorsement.
The Romney campaign did not release their public schedule until Thursday morning — a rarity for them — and even then their 12:30 p.m. slot (the time at which Mr. Trump is set to endorse) stood vague, offering only: “Romney for President Event. TBD Location. Las Vegas, Nevada.” Mr. Romney will appear with Mr. Trump at his Trump International Hotel & Tower here.
You may recall it was Donald Trump who was to moderate a debate among the Republican candidates. One by one the candidates canceled. Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and Ron Paul. They did not want to be part of the Donald Trump debacle. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich did agree to the debate which may explain part of Gingrich's assumption that he would be endorsed
Trump was courted repeatedly by several of the GOP hopefuls. Gingrich, when he was soaring in his first rise before the Iowa caucuses, made a trek to Trump's Fifth Avenue office in Manhattan to ask for his support.
It was the Gingich campaign that jumped the gun on the endorsement, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The campaign of Newt Gingrich suffered an awkward embarrassment Thursday after telling reporters sotto voce that Donald Trump planned to endorse the former House speaker, and then finding out that the real estate mogul and reality TV star had flown into Las Vegas the night before to back Mr. Gingrich’s arch rival, Mitt Romney.
The alleged Gingrich endorsement was confirmed Wednesday night by two people within the Gingrich campaign, but Mr. Trump’s own aides wouldn’t discuss the matter.
Now a senior Romney aide confirms the flashy Mr. Trump plans to throw his publicity wattage behind Mr. Romney, making Mr. Trump one of the first populist-infused Republicans to back the former Massachusetts governor. Mr. Trump plans to make the endorsement this afternoon inside his golden Trump Hotel tower at the north end of the Strip.
The on-then-off Gingrich endorsement–which very likely simply reflects confusion within the Gingrich camp–comes as the campaign continues to reel from its setback in Florida.
Later today in Las Vegas, Donald Trump will endorse Mitt Romney and it will still be worthless. Donald Trump has a way of stretching out a story.
For all all a Donald Trump endorsement is worth.
Nothing.
A Donald Trump endorsement at this point in the campaign is worthless. In view of the fact that it comes complete with Donald Trump wind and bluster and no money, that makes his endorsement worthless.
How Trump could help Romney would be be to donate a million dollars or more to one of those Super PACS. But no, this is just another free Donald Trump media opportunity. The endorsement is all about Donald Trump and far less about Mitt Romney.
Worthless.
This is one time that what goes on in Vegas, should just stay in Vegas.
Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions, johnpresta@att.net.
John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books
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