Donald Trump has stepped yet again into the spotlight to stir things up among the GOP 2012 field. Trump, who last spring toyed with the idea of running for president himself while pushing "birther" conspiracy theories, has offered to moderate a GOP debate in Iowa on December 27. Rep. Ron Paul's campaign already announced that the libertarian would not participate in such a debate:
Mr. Trump's participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like. To be sure, Mr. Trump's participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.
Paul reiterated his criticisms of Trump on CNN Sunday morning: "I don't understand the marching to his office. I didn't know he had the ability to lay on hands and anoint people."
[See a collection of political cartoons on the GOP hopefuls.]
Trump has not taken Paul's jabs lying down. "Few people take Ron Paul seriously and many of his views and presentation make him a clown-like candidate," he said. Monday, former Speaker Newt Gingrich seems to be on Team Trump, appearing alongside the businessman in a press conference in front of New York City's Trump Towers. He defended Trump saying, "This is a country of enormously wide open talent. You know, Donald Trump is a great showman. He's also a great businessman...I think that we have to be open to new ways of doing things and new ways of approaching things." So far, Gingrich is the only candidate to agree to participate in the debate.
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