Conservative lawyer David French says he has decided not to launch an independent campaign for the White House, ending days of speculation about the unlikely bid to challenge presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.
French, who has written for the National Review, announced the news in a post on Sunday evening. He was reportedly being considered by conservative commentator Bill Kristol – the editor of The Weekly Standard – as an alternative for those dissatisfied with Trump.
“After days of prayer, reflection, and serious study of the possibilities, I am not going to run as an independent candidate for president of the United States,” French said on Sunday. “I gave it serious thought – as a pretty darn obscure lawyer, writer, and veteran – only because we live in historic times.”
French added that both the Democratic and Republican parties have “failed so spectacularly” in choosing a presidential candidate, referring to Trump and his likely Democratic challenger, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
French said he is “not the right person” to challenge Trump and Clinton, but added that “the path remains open for others.”
“I learned that the ballot-access challenge can be met with modest effort (by an existing network ready to activate), that the polling for a true outsider independent was better than most people know, and that there are many, many Americans – including outstanding political talents – who are willing to quit their jobs – today – to help provide the American people with an alternative,” he explained.
French added: “Given the timing, the best chance for success goes to a person who either is extraordinarily wealthy (or has immediate access to extraordinary wealth) or is a transformational political talent. … I believe with all my heart that there is an American movement ready to both resist the corruption, decadence, and dishonesty of the American elite and restore the promise of the American dream.”
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