NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNN) — Donald Trump is going to make a decision “very soon” regarding a third-party run, he said Saturday.
“As far as a third-party run is concerned, the Republican Party has been treating me very, very fairly. All I ask is fairness,” he told reporters after addressing the and addressed the National Federation of Republican Assemblies in Nashville, Tennessee. “In terms of victory, that would certainly be the best path to victory, and we’re gonna make a decision very soon and I think a lot of people are gonna be very happy.”
Trump said his success in the polls has caused Republican Party leaders to respond very well to him.
“I’ve been treated very nicely, as you know. I’ve been leading in every poll. I’m leading in every state — by a lot. And nationally by a lot,” he said. “I have a great relationship to the Republican Party — to the conservatives, to the evangelicals, to the tea party. You probably noticed right across the board.”
Trump has until Sept. 30 to rule out a third-party bid if he wants to compete in South Carolina’s Republican primary, a key test in the nominating contest.
Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out a third-party candidacy, noting that he could use the threat of an independent bid as leverage, but he cannot appear on the South Carolina primary ballot unless he pledges to support the GOP nominee in the general election.
