Donald Trump has been touting new poll numbers showing him on top of the GOP race in South Carolina, but in order to file as a presidential candidate in the early primary state, the party's front-runner will have to pledge not to mount a third party run if he is not the chosen Republican nominee.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, South Carolina GOP Chairman Matt Moore stated that “the South Carolina Republican Party’s 2016 Presidential Primary filing form includes a party pledge to not run as a third party candidate in November 2016.” This caveat is also true for state and local candidates.
"I hereby affirm that I generally believe in and intend to support the nominees and platform of the Republican Party in the November 8, 2016 general election,” the South Carolina filing form states.
Trump previously told audiences at the Fox News Debate in Cleveland earlier this month that he could not promise to rule out a third party run in the coming months, reasoning that this option was his “leverage” to ensure that he was treated fairly and “with respect.”
The South Carolina presidential primary filing form must be signed by September 30, 2015 by 5:00pm and has already been signed by other GOP candidates - Rubio, Kasich and Perry among them.
NBC News has reached out to the Trump campaign and they do not have a comment at this time.
