Just when the GOP thought it was in the clear after The Donald told Dana Loesch that he wasn’t considering an independent run, he followed up later by saying he might if the RNC isn’t fair to him. That, of course, would be disastrous, and RNC Chair Reince Priebus discussed what exactly a third-party run would mean for both parties.
On NBC's "Meet the Press," Priebus said that it would “only make sense" that candidates "wouldn't run as a third party." Doing so, he continued, would be a “death wish” for both parties.
The Hill has more:
"If you're going to run for the nomination of our private organization, which is the Republican Party, that it only makes sense that you would, number one, agree that a Republican would be better than a Democrat running on the other side and that you wouldn't run as a third party," he said.
Donald Trump recently told The Hill in an exclusive interview that the chances he will launch a third party White House run will "absolutely" increase if the RNC is unfair to him during the 2016 primary season.
"I think a third party, at least a serious one, on either side of the aisle, would be a death wish to both parties. So I don't think it's unreasonable to say that candidates ought to support on our side, the Republican nominee, if it's not them, and they ought to pledge not to run as a third party," Priebus added.
On whether he has reached out to candidates, Priebus said he hasn't made phone calls to "every candidate."
Priebus said Trump was not hurting the Republican party's image, but added, "Donald Trump speaks for Donald Trump, and no, I don't think it has anything to do with the Republican Party...None of these candidates speak for the party."
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Priebus said the GOP would likely have a Republican nominee by March or early April.
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