Source says Trump may fund Super-PACs to crush rivals
Donald Trump plans to create and fund Super-PACs specifically aimed at ending the political careers of Ted Cruz and John Kasich should either run for office again, after both snubbed the Republican nominee during his party’s convention this week, a person familiar with Trump’s thinking told Bloomberg on Friday.
The plan would involve Trump investing millions of his own money — perhaps $20 million or more — in one or two outside groups about six months before their respective election days if Texas Sen. Cruz or Ohio Gov. Kasich stand for office again. The person said Trump is willing to set up two separate Super-PACs — one for Cruz and one for Kasich — and put millions into each.
The person also said that Trump would be willing to invest tens of millions more if necessary to ensure his former competitors didn’t win another race.
The person said that despite former nomination rival Jeb Bush skipping the national convention and refusing to back him, Trump “does not care” about doing the same against Bush because the former Florida governor is already “destroyed.”
During an event in Cleveland on Friday, Trump hinted at the prospect of funding an outside group against Cruz in the future.
“Maybe I’ll set up a Super-PAC if he decides to run,” Trump said of Cruz. Turning to his running mate Mike Pence he asked rhetorically, “Are you allowed to set up a Super-PAC . . . if you are the president, to fight someone?” The person close to Trump’s thinking indicated that Trump would consider forming the SuperPAC whether or not he wins the presidential election in November.