Real estate mogul and confirmed birther Donald Trump received an “introductory” phone call from Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus Thursday, the same day Trump announced he was sending investigators to Hawaii to research President Obama’s birth. Just a day before, a new poll showed Trump running in a statistical dead-heat with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), also a presidential candidate, and Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly have denounced Trump’s birther conspiracy. But with Priebus’ call, the RNC appears willing and ready to embrace a Trump candidacy. Politico reports:
Nonetheless, the call is validation of Trump’s role on the national scene and his draw for the GOP right now, at a time when many Republicans are bemoaning their choices for 2012 and looking for something fresh.
Trump’s birther strategy, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. He is scheduled to meet this morning with Tea Party leaders and Arizona state Rep. Carl Seel (R) to discuss the state’s birther bill, which would require presidential candidates to prove they are natural born citizens.
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