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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator John McCain predicted on Tuesday a third political party will emerge in response to Americans' economic frustrations and said it might as well be called "the Fed-Up Party." The Republican Party's presidential nominee in 2008 raised the possibility of a third party about a year ago, but his comments on Tuesday suggest he has hardened his views as polls show Americans increasingly disillusioned with Washington politics. The 75-year-old McCain may now be the most prominent politician forecasting Americans will look to another party to compete with Democrats and Republicans. "Unless both parties change, then I think...

Republican Senator John McCain warned on Monday that U.S. lawmakers should respond to the concerns of the conservative Tea Party movement or else its supporters could give rise to a third political party. In an interview at the Reuters Washington Summit, McCain also said Republicans need a "positive agenda" in campaigning for the November 2 congressional election rather than simply saying no to Democratic policies. McCain, who earned a reputation as a political maverick for bucking his party, has recently swung to the right on some issues to beat back a conservative challenger in his re-election bid in Arizona. He...

PHOENIX -- There's no earthly chasm disrupting tree-lined Central Avenue here as it placidly heads north of Bethany Home Road, past well-off residences. However, there might as well have been an abyss between U.S. Sen. John McCain's former home on Central and the church auditorium not far away where local Republican precinct committeemen convened for their annual assembly. McCain left that neighborhood once his children were grown, and the regular January meeting of Maricopa County GOP precinct ground troops, resounding with denunciations of their own party's dispiriting record, in effect voted overwhelmingly that McCain should leave the Senate, too, although...

The events of yesterday may be a blessing in disguise for those of us who react with absolute horror to the very thought of a Democrat President in 2008. Most likely the Democrat nominee is going to be Hillary, and like her husband before her, the only way she could win the Presidency is if there were a conservative stalking horse like Ross Perot to split the conservative vote. We all know what an egomaniac John McCain is. If he does not get the nomination in 2008, there is no doubt in my mind that he will strike a secret...

Bloomberg and Romney aren't the only two people gamblers are betting on joining the 2016 mix. Vice President Joe Biden, who ruled out a run months ago, currently sits at 40-1 . . . "I find the level of discourse and discussion distressingly banal and an outrage and an insult to the voters," Bloomberg said.

Officials in Virginia’s largest jurisdiction want to close public schools during the Super Tuesday presidential primary elections, saying they fear supporters of Republican frontrunner Donald Trump could cause mayhem at the polls. The concerns stem mainly from a Republican Party of Virginia requirement that the March 1 primary voters affirm they are Republicans before voting for a presidential candidate.

Amid mounting concerns about Donald Trump’s candidacy from the GOP establishment, Republican leaders in at least two states have found a way to make life a lot harder for him. The Virginia and North Carolina parties are in discussions about implementing a new requirement for candidates to qualify for their primary ballots: that they pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee — and not run as a third-party candidate — in the general election.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump went on a Twitter tirade Sunday after learning that voters wishing to cast a ballot in the Virginia Republican presidential primary will have to sign an oath affirming they are a member of the party. It begins, Republican Party of Virginia, controlled by the RNC, is working hard to disallow independent, unaffiliated and new voters. BAD! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015 R.P.Virginia has lost statewide 7 times in a row. Will now not allow desperately needed new voters. Suicidal mistake. RNC MUST ACT NOW! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2015...

Amid mounting concerns about Donald Trump’s candidacy from the GOP establishment, Republican leaders in at least two states have found a way to make life a lot harder for him. The Virginia and North Carolina parties are in discussions about implementing a new requirement for candidates to qualify for their primary ballots: that they pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee — and not run as a third-party candidate — in the general election. … The Virginia proposal has earned the support of Ken Cuccinelli, the state’s former attorney general and 2013 gubernatorial nominee, who has been promoting the idea...

Trump told reporters following a speech in Nashville Saturday that he's going to make a decision "very soon." He says he thinks the decision will make a lot of people "very happy." Trump has so far refused to pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee. He says it gives him leverage.

NEW YORK — (CNN) Donald Trump must rule out a third party bid before October if he wants to compete in South Carolina’s Republican primary, a crucial test in the nominating contest. Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out a third party candidacy, noting that he could use the threat of an independent bid as leverage, but he cannot appear on the South Carolina primary ballot unless he pledges to support the GOP nominee in the general election.

Donald Trump may have eased some Republican fears Tuesday night when he declared his intention to stay inside the party. But if their angst has been temporarily eased at the prospect of what he would do if he loses, they still face a far more troubling, and increasingly plausible, question. What happens to the party if he wins? Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/12/donald-trump-2016-third-party-bid-213449#ixzz3uunF2pRX

The South Carolina Republican Party is joining the push to tie Donald Trump’s hands. The state party announced on Tuesday that for presidential candidates to qualify for the South Carolina primary, they must pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee — and not run as a third-party candidate — in the general election. The move comes as two other state parties, North Carolina and Virginia, ponder similar loyalty pledges. It’s an offensive that is implicitly aimed at Trump, who has repeatedly refused to rule out a third-party run. It comes amid mounting frustration in Republican establishment circles over Trump’s candidacy....

It’s about time I get a chance to write something positive about RPV. According to Politico, RPV Chairman John Whitbeck and State Central have chosen to stand up to the Trumpkins and their Supreme Leader “The Donald.” RPV, along with the GOP in North Carolina, are considering making all presidential candidates sign a loyalty oath. This measure is being looked at to deter a 3rd party candidacy from billionaire populist candidate Donald Trump. Trump famously said in last month’s GOP Presidential Debate that he could not commit to supporting the eventual party nominee. The measure even has the endorsement of...

Donald Trump has until the end of next month to formally declare his allegiance to the Republican Party or his name will not appear on the South Carolina presidential primary ballot. South Carolina GOP Chairman Matt Moore confirmed the requirement this afternoon that candidates filing as Republicans must pledge not to turn as a third-party candidate should they lose the nomination. At least two other states - Virginia and North Carolina - are contemplating similar moves as way of keeping the unpredictable billionaire in check.

In the first moments of Fox News’ GOP debate earlier this month, Donald Trump was the only candidate on the stage would not vow to support the eventual nominee of the Republican Party, leaving the door open for an third-party campaign should he fail to secure the nomination. Now, The Huffington Post is reporting — in their Entertainment section, of course — that Trump has told “several top Republicans” that he has decided to rule out that possibility and commit himself fully to the GOP. Reporters Sam Stein and Ryan Grim cite “several sources” who were privy to the...

The Rev. Franklin Graham quitting the Republican Party poses a significant blow to the GOP's 2016 White House aspirations, especially if other evangelical pastors follow suit and their millions-plus congregations stay away from the polls. Graham suggested earlier this week that the last straw was congressional Republicans funding Planned Parenthood in the recently passed, $1.8 trillion tax-and-spending package, despite revelations about the group harvesting fetal tissue. However, he made clear Wednesday night that the funding was only part of the reason he left the GOP to become an independent. "It's not just that," Graham said on Fox News' "On the...

According to “sore loser” laws in the state of Ohio, any candidate who has chosen their party essentially can’t, at the last minute, run on a third-party ticket in the state. With Ohio being a crucial swing state, that’s a massive hurdle for team Trump to overcome, should they wish to run a third-party candidacy in the future. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted and his spokesman, Joshua Eck, have already decided that due to the fact Trump “voluntarily participated” in the Republican primary debate in the state of Ohio, he’s already declared himself a Republican in the eyes of...

Dana Loesch spoke with 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump today on her Blaze television program. Dana asked Mr. Trump about sharing Lindsey Graham’s cell phone number with the public, the Planned Parenthood controversy, same sex marriage, and what he would do to fix the Veterans Administration. ** You can watch the entire interview here.(VIDEO-AT-LINK) Donald Trump told Dana he will not run third party and will only run as a Republican. Trump is currently leading the polls in Iowa. ** Much more here.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura says he’s backing Sen. Bernie Sanders in his bid for president. In a blog post on his independent media site, Ventura praised Sanders for challenging Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination. “I think what Bernie Sanders is doing is extremely healthy,” Ventura wrote. “I love the idea of somebody throwing a fly in the ointment.” This isn’t the first time Ventura backed a presidential candidate looking to shake up the system. In 2008 and 2012, Ventura backed Republican Ron Paul for president. In 2004, Ventura backed Democrat John Kerry against Republican President George W. Bush....