Donald Trump: 'I. Will. Never. Leave. This. Race.'
To the increasing concern of the Republican Party, Donald Trump appears to be in the presidential race for the long haul. Although "sore loser" laws could make a hypothetical third party run difficult, it seems increasingly likely that it might not be necessary — while other candidates say Trump will eventually just go away, there are only 53 days until the Iowa caucus and he remains the frontrunner by a wide margin.
Speaking to The Washington Post's Steven Ginsberg and Robert Costa, Trump confirmed that he has no plans to leave the race. "There is another side to the 'you're always a winner' thought: Because you're always a winner, you won't face the prospect of losing. As we get closer to Iowa and Ted Cruz, or someone else looks like they're going to win, then you're going to back out," Ginsberg challenged, only to have Trump confirm "I can handle it" and "I'm never backing out."
Trump: Let me just say: That interview was a couple of months ago. If I see that I'm not going to win, I'd get out. I'm not a masochist [...] They took the statement, which was a perfectly honest, honorable statement and they made it sound like I'm leaving.Ginsberg: Most people leave the race because of money.Trump: Right. They never say it because they're not honest.Ginsberg: Well, it's December. There are 60 days to Iowa.Trump: I will never leave the race.Ginsberg: You will never leave the race?Trump: Are you ready? [He waves one arm over his head, as if to clear away everything and remove all doubt.]I. Will. Never. Leave. This. Race. [The Washington Post]
Read more in The Washington Post.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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