Being ahead in the polls can come with a price: For Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson, it means there’s enough of a threat to their safety that they’ve been approved to get Secret Service details “within days”, The Washington Post reports.
Advertisement
“We can confirm that DHS (the Department of Homeland Security) has authorized Secret Service protection for both candidates”, spokesman Robert Hoback told AFP. Trump in particular has been speaking to large crowds at campaign rallies – raising security concerns, though he does have a private security team.
The decision had been expected since last month, when representatives with both campaigns met with Secret Service officials about the possibility.
Republican USA presidential candidate businessman Donald Trump listens as Ben Carson speaks at the 2016 U.S. Republican presidential candidates debate held by CNBC in Boulder, Colorado, October 28, 2015. According to Politico, the Secret Service will work with the Trump and Carson campaigns to figure out a start date for protection. A few of the factors that are considered are national polling, primary or caucus results, amounts of contributions received and the current threat environment.
Until now, the billionaire Trump has been paying for his own security.
“They’re in no rush because I’m a Republican”, he quipped. For example, then-Sen. Barack Obama received protection early in 2007, long before he secured the nomination.
Advertisement
As a former first lady, Democrat Hillary Clinton already has a Secret Service detail.
