Trump joins Bachmann in a tele-town hall

From MPR's Matt Sepic...

Donald Trump dipped his toe back into presidential politics this evening, headlining a telephone town hall forum with GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Supporters of the Minnesota Republican's presidential campaign called in with questions. However Bachmann made it clear at the start that Trump was not endorsing her.

The two stuck to themes popular with conservatives: curbing illegal immigration from Mexico, repealing President Obama's health care overhaul and cutting taxes and regulation.

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Trump reiterated his fear about China's growing economic and military might.

"We don't have the right leadership," Trump said. " We're really falling badly. By 2016 or sooner China will overtake us economically. Hard to believe. It would have been impossible to even say that ten years ago."

Trump was referring to an International Monetary Fund report that predicts China's share of the global economy will surpass the United States in five years.

Trump sidestepped a question as to whether he would be willing to be Bachmann's running mate.

Bachmann stuck to many of her key talking points on the call including building a fence along the southern U.S. border, repealing the federal health care law and expanding oil drilling in the U.S.

You can listen to a large part of the conference call here: