Trump Coyly Eyes White House Run

Donald Trump was as enigmatic as ever about his presidential plans Thursday during taping of the cable TV show “Hardball With Chris Matthews” at the University of Pennsylvania.

The real estate tycoon, who has been accused of using his presidential flirtation to increase sales of his recent book, said during the show that he was “indeed running,” but added, after a long pause, “perhaps.”

Trump went on to say he would run for president only if he were certain he could win, something he might not know until as late as February (even though he says his current polls look “amazing”). If he does decide to run, Trump said, he might spend as much as $80 million or $100 million of his money on the race.

Trump also has been accused of serving as a stalking-horse for Jesse Ventura, the Reform Party governor of Minnesota. Ventura is believed to harbor presidential plans for 2004 and has encouraged a Trump bid to block conservative Patrick J. Buchanan from hijacking the party and driving it to the right on social issues.

That argument gained a bit of credence last week when Trump unveiled his campaign Web site (www.donaldjtrump2000.com ).