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| Donald Trump signs Republican pledge not to run as independent | Donald Trump signs Republican pledge not to run as independent |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has agreed not to run as an independent candidate if he loses the Republican nomination for the 2016 elections. | US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has agreed not to run as an independent candidate if he loses the Republican nomination for the 2016 elections. |
| "I will be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and the conservative principles for which it stands," he said on Thursday. | "I will be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and the conservative principles for which it stands," he said on Thursday. |
| He had earlier refused to rule it out. | He had earlier refused to rule it out. |
| The billionaire business mogul, who has been soaring in the polls, has come under pressure in recent weeks from the Republican Party to sign the pledge. | The billionaire business mogul, who has been soaring in the polls, has come under pressure in recent weeks from the Republican Party to sign the pledge. |
| His announcement on Thursday will be seen as a victory for the party, who may have seen a split in its support and given the Democrats a boost had Donald Trump pressed ahead as an independent candidate. | His announcement on Thursday will be seen as a victory for the party, who may have seen a split in its support and given the Democrats a boost had Donald Trump pressed ahead as an independent candidate. |
| He said he had received nothing for signing the loyalty pledge, aside from the assurance that he would be treated fairly in the race. | He said he had received nothing for signing the loyalty pledge, aside from the assurance that he would be treated fairly in the race. |
| 'Won't tear it up' | 'Won't tear it up' |
| Mr Trump was booed by audience members during the Republican presidential debate last month after he refused to rule out a third-party run. He was the only candidate not to commit to back the winner of the party's primaries. | |
| The Republican Party National Committee has since sought a loyalty pledge from each of its presidential hopefuls, in what is believed to be a first for the party. | The Republican Party National Committee has since sought a loyalty pledge from each of its presidential hopefuls, in what is believed to be a first for the party. |
| "The best way forward... to win, is if I win the nomination and go direct against whoever (the Democrats) happen to put up. So for that reason, I have signed the pledge," Mr Trump told reporters gathered at his campaign headquarters in New York's Trump Tower. | "The best way forward... to win, is if I win the nomination and go direct against whoever (the Democrats) happen to put up. So for that reason, I have signed the pledge," Mr Trump told reporters gathered at his campaign headquarters in New York's Trump Tower. |
| "I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge," he added. | "I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge," he added. |
| The Republican Party pledge asks presidential candidates to "endorse the 2016 Republican presidential nominee regardless of who it is". | The Republican Party pledge asks presidential candidates to "endorse the 2016 Republican presidential nominee regardless of who it is". |
| Donald Trump has come under attack from his rivals in the race who have questioned his conservative credentials and liberal leanings in the past. | Donald Trump has come under attack from his rivals in the race who have questioned his conservative credentials and liberal leanings in the past. |
| Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said on Thursday Donald Trump's views on illegal immigration were "too pessimistic", despite vowing to support his rival if he won the party race. | Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said on Thursday Donald Trump's views on illegal immigration were "too pessimistic", despite vowing to support his rival if he won the party race. |
| Some of the measures Mr Trump has outlined to combat illegal immigration include raising visa fees to pay for a wall along the Mexican border and ending the automatic right to citizenship for US-born children of families living illegally in America. | Some of the measures Mr Trump has outlined to combat illegal immigration include raising visa fees to pay for a wall along the Mexican border and ending the automatic right to citizenship for US-born children of families living illegally in America. |
| The latest poll by Monmouth University puts Mr Trump way ahead with support from 30% of Republicans, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson running a distant second with 18%. | The latest poll by Monmouth University puts Mr Trump way ahead with support from 30% of Republicans, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson running a distant second with 18%. |
| The rest of the Republican pack is trailing far behind, with Jeb Bush currently tied with Texas senator Ted Cruz at 8%. | The rest of the Republican pack is trailing far behind, with Jeb Bush currently tied with Texas senator Ted Cruz at 8%. |