FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
He's got big bucks, weird hair, a big-time reality show franchise and lots of buildings with his name on them. He's outspoken and has never shied away from a television camera. But does any of that make billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump a good fit for the Oval Office?
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He seems to think so. What a surprise.
While he hasn't officially announced he's running for president, he's putting more than his toe in the water.
For one thing, he has managed to reignite the Obama "birther" debate. Trump wants to see an official Barack Obama birth certificate. He says by not producing one he thinks President Obama has something to hide.
Trump is scheduled to speak at several political events in early primary states: a Tea Party rally in south Florida next weekend, a dinner held by the Iowa Republican Party in Des Moines later this spring, and he'll be part of the traditional "Politics and Eggs" breakfast series in New Hampshire in June.
Speaking of New Hampshire, a poll of primary voters in that state shows Trump running a close second to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and well ahead of other well-known Republicans.
"The Donald" says some wacky things that likely make political strategists in Washington cringe, but a run by the New York billionaire has the potential to shake up the 2012 presidential race. Some are even comparing his possible entry to the run independent Ross Perot, himself a wealthy businessman, made in 1992. Perot got 19% of the popular vote, running on the platforms of smaller government and greater fiscal responsibility, two issues Trump has talked a lot about. And two issues that still have not been addressed.
Here’s my question to you: Does America need a wild card like Donald Trump in the 2012 presidential race?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
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