FOX News' Bret Baier started off tonight's primetime Republican debate asking the candidates for president if they would pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee *and* to not run an independent against them. Donald Trump was the only candidate to raise his hand in opposition. Trump said he would wants to win as a Republican, however could not pledge to support the eventual nominee.





BRET BAIER, FOX NEWS: Gentlemen, we know how much you love hand raising questions. So we promise this is the only one tonight. the only one. Is there anyone on stage -- can I see hands -- who is unwilling tonight to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican party and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person? Again, we're looking for you to raise your hand now, raise your hand now if you won't make that pledge tonight.



[Trump raises hand]



BAIER: Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump, to be clear, you're standing on a Republican --



DONALD TRUMP: I fully understand.



BAIER: The place where the RNC will give the nominee the nod.



TRUMP: I fully understand.



BAIER: And the experts say an independent run would almost certainly hand the race over the Democrats and likely another Clinton. You can't say tonight that you can make that pledge?



TRUMP: I cannot say. I have to respect the person that if it's not me, the person that wins. If I do win and I'm leading by quite a bit. That's what I want to do. I can totally make the pledge if I'm a nominee. I am discussing it with everybody. But I'm talking about a lot of leverage. We want to win and we will win. But I want to win as the Republican. I want to run as the Republican nominee.