Donald Trump refuses to rule out third party bid

When Fox News host Bret Baier asked all ten candidates on stage if they would vow to not to run as a third party candidate, only Trump raised his hand.

“Gentlemen, we know that you love hand-raising questions. So we promised this is the only one tonight,” Baier said. “Is there anyone on stage — and can I see hands, who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican Party, and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person.”

None of the other candidates raised their hands and crowd at the Quicken Loans Arena booed Trump.

“To be clear, you’re standing on a Republican primary debate…the place where the RNC will give the nominee the nod,” Baier said.

“I understand,” Trump responded. “I fully understand.”

“And that experts say an independent run would almost certainly hand the race over to Democrats and, likely, another Clinton,” Baier continued. “You can’t say tonight that you can make that pledge?”

“I cannot say. I have to respect the person, that if it’s not me, the person that wins. If I do win, and I’m winning by quite a bit, that’s what I want to do,” Trump said. “I can totally make that pledge if I’m the nominee — I will pledge I would not run as an independent. And I am discussing this with everybody. But we are talking about a lot of leverage, we want to win, and we will win, but I want to win as the Republican. I want to win as the Republican nominee.”

This didn’t sit well with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who blasted Trump for “hedging his bet” on a Hillary Clinton presidency.

“Here’s what’s wrong. He buys and sells politicians of all stripes,” Paul said. “He’s already hedging his bet on the Clintons! So if he doesn’t win as a Republican, maybe he supports Clinton, or maybe he runs as an independent. But I’d say that he’s already hedging his bets because he’s used to buying politicians.”

“Well, I’ve given him plenty of money,” Trump shot back before Baier moved forward with the debate.