Trump stumping in NH in secret - kind of

There's talk of a Main Street walk somewhere to meet average citizens, but Trump advisers won't be more specific, citing "security" concerns.

It's something of an unconventional strategy for elective office.

Trump has been hammering both President Obama and some potential presidential rivals such as Mitt Romney recently, indicating he's seriously considering a White House campaign. And his outreach to Tea Party supporters and so-called "birthers" has contributed to his strong showing in early polls.

Trump is already demanding Obama produce his birth certificate, claiming the "certificate of live birth" he has provided doesn't prove he was born in Hawaii and not his father's native Kenya. On Monday, he also challenged the incumbent Democrat's academic record.

"I heard he was a terrible student, terrible," Trump told The Associated Press. "How does a bad student go to Columbia and then to Harvard? I'm thinking about it, I'm certainly looking into it. Let him show his records."

At a Tea Party rally in Florida earlier this month, he also questioned whether Obama had written his own books, and said he would restore US stature in the world.

“The United States has become the laughing stock and the whipping post for the rest of the world, whether we like it or not, and we don’t like it, the world is laughing at us," said Trump. "They’re laughing at our leaders, they’re taking advantage of us, and it’s a disgrace."

Romney, who has led some GOP polls, hasn't fared much better. During an interview with CNN this month, Trump labeled the former venture capitalist and Massachusetts governor a "small business guy."

Trump added: "I'm a much bigger businessman and have a much, much bigger net worth. I mean my net worth is many, many, many times Mitt Romney."

Yet for all his criticism, Trump has also said he can't make any formal announcement about his plans until after his NBC-TV program "Celebrity Apprentice" finishes its season in June.

And the Washington Post today has a story today about his campaign contributions that could undercut his standing with the Republican and Tea Party bases.

The newspaper's analysis of state and federal disclosure records found that Trump had donated 54 percent of $1.3 million in campaign contributions during the past 10 years to Democrats.

The top recipient was the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee of New York, which got $125,600.

Among Trump's other contributions was $50,000 to Obama's former chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel, during his successful run for mayor of Chicago.

And Trump donated $10,400 to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a GOP target, including during his recent re-election campaign against Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle, the Post found.

Trump recently told Fox News that his donation pattern was driven by the Democrats' likelihood in winning a particular race.

"One thing: I’m not stupid," he told Fox. "Am I going to contribute to Republicans for my whole life when they get heat when they run against some Democrat and the most they can get is 1 percent of the vote?

Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen.