Trump trailing Obama by a hair in recent poll and billionaire developer says he isn't surprised

Saturday, February 26th 2011, 4:00 AM

Watts/NewsDonald Trump pondered a Reform Party run for the presidency during the 2000 election.

Donald Trump says the nation's best and brightest rarely seek public office anymore - although he knows just the guy to buck that trend: Donald Trump.

"People always say the strongest, smartest, most successful people never run," Trump told the Daily News this week. "I may have to test that theory. The country really needs it."

Trump, whose name seems to routinely surface when the presidential race begins, said he wasn't stunned by a Newsweek/Daily Beast poll showing he trailed President Obama by just 2 points.

"I wasn't as surprised as some many people," the billionaire developer said. "I do think the numbers are amazing. The President is campaigning. I'm not even campaigning.

"Zero dollars, zero campaigning, and I'm two points behind."

The poll found Obama barely beating Trump in a head-to-head matchup, just 43% to 41%.

Those numbers, combined with Trump's well-received speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee, hyped speculation about The Donald making a move on the White House.

A Draft Trump 2012 Committee was launched via the Internet, declaring its hopes of landing the Queens native on the ballot in some early battleground states.

As for the incumbent, Trump offered criticism similar to his shots at Obama before the CPAC conference earlier this month.

"You've had somebody like Obama running for President, and he never really did anything," said Trump, 64.
Trump - although a political apprentice - first raised his presidential ambitions back in 1988.

He pondered a Reform Party run for the 2000 election, but has yet to put his name on the ballot for any public office.

Trump said his appeal is simple: "People are sick of getting pushed around, and being a whipping post for the world.

"If I ever did run, and I ever won, it would be a bad day for a lot of countries ripping us off," he added.

Although Trump has become increasingly outspoken about the White House and foreign policy, he still has yet to make up his mind about a run for the presidency.

"I don't know," Trump said. "But when the best people and the most qualified people can't run, that's sad commentary on this country."