Angry Republicans draft ex-CIA officer to challenge Trump: Reports
Republicans disenchanted with Donald Trump as the party's presidential nominee plan to draft Evan McMullin, a former CIA officer and counterterrorism expert, to launch an independent run for the White House, according to media reports.
McMullin, 40, who was the chief policy director of the House Republican Conference, was being drafted by an anti-Trump group called "Better for America." He is expected to announce his presidential bid on Monday.
Trump, whose campaign has been marred by controversy from the beginning, has fallen behind his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in national polls.
In addition, Trump's many missteps and his feuds with senior Republican officials, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have caused a rift in the GOP over the need to get behind him as the party’s candidate.
The New York businessman has insisted that his campaign is united despite reports of it being in disarray.
“In a year where Americans have lost faith in the candidates of both major parties, it’s time for a generation of new leadership to step up,” McMullin told ABC News.
“It’s never too late to do the right thing, and America deserves much better than either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton can offer us. I humbly offer myself as a leader who can give millions of disaffected Americans a conservative choice for president.”
Veteran GOP strategist Rick Wilson, a media consultant and outspoken critic of Trump, will reportedly be involved in McMullin’s campaign.
McMullin has frequently criticized Trump on social media over his stance on civil rights as well as his refusal to release his tax returns.
Observers say McMullin, who is not well known outside of Republican circles in Washington, stands little chance of garnering enough attention to mount a meaningful challenge against Trump or Clinton.
Like Trump, McMullin has never held elected office.
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