Conservatives Plan Strategy to Stop Donald Trump, Consider Third-Party Challenge
A growing group of conservatives are planning a closed-door meeting in Washington to discuss ways to slow the momentum of Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
Led by Bill Wichterman, a liaison to former President George W. Bush; South Dakota businessman Bob Fischer; and conservative activist Erick Erickson, the group is rumored to be willing to pull out all the stops to halt Trump. Discussions reportedly include the idea of fielding a third-party "true conservative" to face off against Trump in the general election, should he secure the party's nomination.
"Please join other conservative leaders to strategize how to defeat Donald Trump for the Republican nomination," the trio wrote in an invitation circulated among conservative leaders. "And if he is the Republican nominee for president, to offer a true conservative candidate in the general election."
A person close to the discussions said the planned meeting was in the "embryonic" stages.
"It's not like there's a royal grand plan that's going to be unfurled," the source added. "People aren't giving up on the Republican Party yet."
Trio Opposes Trump
Wichterman, Fischer and Erickson all have deeply rooted ties to the social conservative movement. Chief Trump rival Ted Cruz has strongly sought to align himself with this group as well.
Wichterman also once served as a senior adviser to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, while Fischer previously brought together conservatives from across the country to unite behind the candidacy of Rick Santorum.
Meanwhile, Erickson and Trump have publicly sparred ever since the New York real estate magnate announced his 2016 candidacy.
"I will not be voting for Donald Trump at all. Ever," Erickson vowed on his conservative radio broadcast.
Other GOP donors have also recently expressed openness to considering last minute options to slowing Trump. A group recently commissioned a study on the feasibility of launching a last-minute Independent challenge.
Latino Voters to Play Key Role
No matter how the official plan turns out, Latino voters could play a key role in the coming strategy. Pew Research recently reported 44 percent of Hispanic voters now describe themselves as Independents, opposed to 34 percent who identify as Democratic and 13 percent Republican.
In addition, more than twice as many Latinos now either align with the Democratic Party or lean that way than identify as Republicans or lean toward the GOP (56 to 26 percent).
Trump Dominates Super Tuesday II
The meeting is scheduled to take place just 48 hours after Trump reveled in yet another strong showing on Super Tuesday II, winning primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina. The candidate is closing in on the 1,237 delegates he needs to officially become the face of the party.
With GOP primary votes already counted in nearly half the states, Trump holds a sizable lead in delegates, and according to some estimations, he would need to bag just over 50 percent of all remaining delegates to the secure the nomination.