A top GOP strategist has declined a slight but very public offer from Donald Trump to join his potential 2012 presidential campaign.
In an interview with Meghan McCain last week, Donald Trump floated a couple political strategists, including Tony Fabrizio, as potential campaign adviser* should the celebrity mogul decide to run. In a letter to Trump today, however, Fabrizio said he will “respectfully decline” any invitation to serve The Donald.
“I spent a good deal of time reflecting over the weekend about our talks and the possibility of working together in your potential campaign,” read an email obtained by The Daily Caller. “While I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get to know each other better and I am flattered by your considering me for your potential campaign, I respectfully decline the opportunity and therefore withdraw myself from consideration. ”
Trump has reportedly been in talks with Fabrizio for some time and the political strategist told The Daily Caller that he and Trump discussed the possibility of Fabrizio serving as the “the Chief Strategist and Pollster for his campaign should he enter the race.”
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know Mr. Trump better over the past few weeks and wish him all the best,” Fabrizio told TheDC. “Should he enter the race, he will certainly have an important voice and drive the issues addressed by the field. At this juncture, I don’t believe the field is fully formed as we’ve not seen all the potential contenders weigh in yet.”
In the email, Fabrizio said he looked forward to meeting Trump’s team “on the field of battle,” indicating the strategist could be aiming for another possible GOP presidential contender, although he’s not spilling. Asked who Trump might now look toward to fill the key spots of his potential campaign staff, Fabrizio said it would be “presumptuous enough to interfere or offer comment.”
The GOP strategist helped push recently-elected Florida Governor Rick Scott to victory and also served as a strategist for Bob Dole in 1996. Since Trump hinted at a Presidential campaign, Frabrizio also offered gravitas to the real estate mogul and TV star’s ambitions, telling the Wall Street Journal that Trump was “Donald’s as serious as a heart attack.”
Trump has said that he will announce his presidential plans before June.
* Fabrizio was originally referred to as a potential campaign director
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