Donald Trump claimed last week that he's the "Democrats' worst nightmare." But after telling The Wall Street Journal that he would "probably" run as an independent candidate if he does not win the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, Trump is more likely haunting the dreams of prominent Republicans. Many are dismissing the real estate mogul's flirtation with the presidency as a publicity stunt, but Trump tied with Mike Huckabee as the top 2012 GOP contender in a recent poll and Republicans worry that he'll split party votes as an independent candidate. Is Trump trouble for the GOP? (Watch an MSNBC discussion about Trump's potential run.)
Yes. Republicans will be losing sleep over this: The only difference between Trump and Ross Perot, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, "seems to be that Perot was a better businessman." A Trump "vanity campaign" would be a "nightmare scenario for Republicans in this cycle" — likely handing Obama a second term by "splitting the anti-Obama vote." Isn't there a way the GOP can "nip this in the bud"?
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