The Hill News

The Donald show is becoming so outlandish â€" this week's developments include Trump claiming he is tight with "the blacks" â€" that even nonpartisan observers of the GOP 2012 primary race are beginning to feel sorry for legitimate contenders like former Govs. Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Tim Pawlenty (Minn.) and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

Charlie Cook, author of The Cook Political Report, wrote this week that Trump's rising poll numbers are due to his high name identification and that "anyone assuming that the reality-show host's interest in running for president is just another one of his publicity stunts would not likely be wrong." But Cook notes Trump's very presence in the discussion, as well as his ample poll support thus far! , is demoralizing to the other "highly qualified Republicans thinking of running for president." And that begs the question of whether any other flirters who have appeared to demur â€" namely Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, the favorite establishment pick who doesn't seem interested â€" could conclude that Trump is the final nail in the coffin, a deciding factor in ruling a run out rather than in.

Read more...