Trump thinking - again - about running for president
Serial presidential campaign explorer Donald Trump is at it again, spending $1 million researching a 2016 run, according to his executive vice president.
"The electoral research was commissioned," Trump's executive VP and special counsel Michael Cohen first told the New York Post and confirmed to CBS News. "We did not spend $1 million on this research for it just to sit on my bookshelf," he said.
"At this point Mr. Trump has not made any decision on a political run, but what I would say is that he is exactly what this country needs. The turnout at these political speeches indicates his following remains very strong and is growing."
The billionaire and "Celebrity Apprentice" host has become more politically outspoken in recent years and is perhaps best known for famously - or infamously, depending on your point of view - helping nudge President Obama to release his birth certificate in 2011.
Trump followed that up by upping the ante prior to last November's presidential election, offering $5 million to the charity of the president's choice if he opened up "his college records and applications, and if he gives his passport applications and records." His "offer" drew widespread ridicule from late-night talk show hosts and even some Republicans.
He considered running for president in 2012, telling CBS News' Bob Schieffer that January, during the height of the primary season, that he thought the GOP was hurting itself with the level of "hatred" the presidential candidates were throwing at each other.
As for a possible independent run in 2012, which he was not shy about publicly musing about, Trump told Schieffer: "It's not something I want to do, I'd love to see a candidate come along who's going to go up but if I don't see a person that, number one, is going to win, that's tantamount, I would certainly think about doing it after the show ends."
Trump wound up not running and ultimately endorsed Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
If Trump continues to mull a 2016 bid, it would be his fourth time testing the presidential waters. In addition to his 2012 flirtation, he fleetingly pondered a run in 1988, and, in 1999, he began a very public play for a possible third-party candidacy.
Fresh off his divorce from Marla Maples, flaunting his new girlfriend (and now-wife) Melania Knauss, and promoting a new book that laid out his political views, Trump sensed a possible political opening. The Reform Party, the party created by Ross Perot after his 1992 presidential run and the vehicle for his 1996 run, was set to receive federal funding in 2000 after Perot received eight percent of the vote in 1996. Trump started talking up a possible Reform Party bid, pitting him against famous conservative Pat Buchanan.
In Feburary of 2000, he decided not to run after all, citing infighting within the Reform Party.
Meantime, Cohen tells CBS News that Trump is becoming a highly-sought after speaker at local Republican events.
"There are more than two dozen additional requests for him to appear at political events," he said.
Last week, the Oakland County (Mich.) Republican Party, reportedly drew a record 2,300 for Trump's appearance at a fundraising dinner.
"Everybody tells me, 'Please run for president. Please run for president.' I would be much happier if a great and competent person came along," Trump said, according to the Source Newspapers. "I'd be happy if President Obama did a great job. I'm a Republican, but before anything, I love this country. I would love to see somebody come in who is going to be great."
He also said that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee and the GOP "has to pick the right candidate because it will not be an easy election in three years."
"If they don't pick the right person, it will be a landslide."
CBS News' Lindsey Boerma contributed to this report.