Palin Stops By Trump's Pad For A Chat
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sarah Palin made a stop in Manhattan on Tuesday during her "One Nation" bus tour. The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee met with Donald Trump at his Trump Tower condominium.
The former Alaska governor stepped out of a black SUV to a crush of cameras. She greeted a few tourists and joked to reporters that she would encourage Trump to stop contributing to Democrats.
Palin's plans for the presidential race remain unknown.
Trump, the multimillionaire host of Celebrity Apprentice, made headlines painting the U.S. as a country in decline. He criticized China for unfair trade practices and said the U.S. under Obama had become a "laughing stock" to the rest of the world.
Palin apparently heeded those words, saying she and Trump shared a similar world view.
"What do we have in common? Our love for this country, a desire to see our economy put back on the right track," Palin told reporters after a 15-minute meeting with Trump outside the Trump Tower, where he owns a three-floor penthouse.
"To have a balanced trade arrangement with other countries across this world so Americans can have our jobs, our industries, our manufacturing again. And exploiting responsibly our natural resources. We can do that again if we make good decisions," Palin said.
Trump demurred when asked if he would support a Palin presidential candidacy.
"She didn't ask me for that. She came up as friends," Trump said. "She's a great woman, a terrific woman and a terrific friend. I'd love her to run."
Palin added, "We both agree that competition is good and the more folks in that primary, the better."
After the meeting, Trump and his wife, Melania, rode in a stretch limousine with Palin, her parents and youngest daughter Piper to have dinner at a pizza restaurant in Times Square. The Palins planned to visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty Wednesday morning.
Palin and her family have been visiting historical sites since her bus tour launched earlier this week.
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