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Trump visits early-voting states: savvy campaigning or 'a stunt'?

Donald Trump continues to fan the flames of the blogosphere rumor mill, even as GOP leaders (other than Sarah Palin) distance themselves from his 'birther' claims.

By Staff Writer / April 20, 2011

Donald Trump attends the South Florida Tea Party's third annual tax day rally on April 16, in Boca Raton, Fla. Trump repeatedly told the crowd he has the qualities needed in the White House.

Gary Coronado / Palm Beach Post / AP

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Where's The Donald? Chances are, in an early-voting state.

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After scheduling visits to Iowa and New Hampshire in June, and headlining a tea party rally this weekend in Florida, Donald Trump is heading to Nevada next week to speak to several Republican women's groups.

All of which, of course, is making the blogosphere go even crazier discussing the likelihood of a presidential campaign.

But even as Mr. Trump fans the "birther" flames and tells Florida tea partiers, "If I run and win, our country will be respected again," a number of observers are speculating that this is all one long publicity stunt.

Trump has said he's likely to use the May 22 finale of "The Apprentice" – which has had flagging ratings – to make an announcement. About when and where he will hold a press conference announcing his decision?

It wouldn't be the first time he's used the "Apprentice" finale as the platform for a major announcement – when he criticized the plans for Ground Zero in 2005, he promised to unveil his own proposal on the show's finale – and it's not the first time he's flirted with a presidential bid.

But even some colleagues at NBC are skeptical of his posturing. An unnamed NBC executive told Entertainment Weekly, "If he wants to spout off about things, we’re happy to let him. But our inclination is that he’s not serious about running for president. We think it’s a stunt.”

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