GOP convention: Who is the mystery speaker Thursday night?

There’s an enticing blank on the Republican convention speakers’ schedule for Thursday night. Speculation is fierce among the vast press corps as to who (or what) it might be. Here is our list.

3. Donald Trump

Mike Carlson/REUTERS
Donald Trump is applauded before a dinner hosted by the Sarasota Republican Party honoring him as Statesman of the Year in Sarasota, Fla., Sunday.

OK, The Donald is a long shot. Having him appear in the prime-time hour is likely only to alienate independent voters and bring more attention to his "birther" claims about President Obama's birthplace.

But Mr. Trump made cryptic references earlier this week to a planned “great surprise” at the convention – if he could only get there.  

And when Romney campaign strategist Russ Schriefer was asked by reporters about Trump’s nonappearance, he replied, "Just because he's not here doesn't mean he's not going to show up.”

If Trump were to make an appearance, it could only be to do one thing: stand onstage and say, “Barack Obama, You’re fired.”

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