Trump fails to file as independent in Texas BY Martin Barillas
http://www.speroforum.com/a/HUVONCASYJ9/76882-Trump-fails-to-file-as-independent-in-Texas?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TWFMOTZFNN19&utm_content=HUVONCASYJ9&utm_source=news&utm_term=Trump+fails+to+file+as+independent+in+Texas#.Vm_8yb1Z1bI
Despite reports that Trump was flirting with a bid to run as an independent, his campaign missed a deadline to file as independent in Texas today. Trump registered weeks earlier to run as a Republican in Texas.
While Trump could embark on an independent run in a handful of other states, he will be locked out of an independent run in Texas until after the Republican and Democratic primary.
Texas is the biggest prize for Republican presidential candidates: Texas has chosen the Republican nominee in every election cycle since 1980. Trump will need to gain the 38 electoral college votes in the state to become President. Without Texas votes, Trump’s bid to become President in a close election are extremely remote.
On September 3, Trump signed a pledge after causing a controversy at the first GOP presidential debate, hosted by Fox News, where he was the only candidate who would not commit to remaining a Republican during the presidential election.
Trump could still run as an independent in Texas. In Texas, independent candidates must gather signatures from 79,939 registered voters by May 9 if they did not already register. Candidates who run as independents can only gather signatures after March 1, the date of the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries in that state. All of the signatures must be from voters who did not cast their ballots in either party’s primary election.
In a poll released in November by the University of Texas/Texas Tribune, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump are closely matched in earning the support of Texan Republicans in the upcoming presidential primary. Among likely GOP primary voters, Cruz and Trump were tied at 27 percent. This put them far ahead for Ben Carson with 13 percent in third place, and Marco Rubio in fourth place with 9 percent.
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