Donald Trump said Monday that he's "the least racist person there is," and that the criticism he has faced won't deter him from running for president.

Trump, the real estate mogul and host of NBC's "The Apprentice," denied that his public quest to force President Obama to release his birth certificate, as well as other elements of his nascent campaign, was racially motivated.

"When it comes to racism and racist, I am the least racist person there is," Trump said on Fox News. "I think that most people that know me would tell you that I am the least racist."

Trump pointed to the fact that Randal Pinkett, an African-American contestant on "The Apprentice," was the winner of his show, and said that his accusers were simply seeing publicity for themselves.

Still, Trump's had some awkward moments over the past few months as he considers seeking the 2012 Republican nomination — for instance, he boasted of having a "great relationship with the blacks" during a radio appearance last month.

The criticism he's faced hasn't served as a deterrent, Trump said Monday.

"I have said and I have always been told, that a very successful person cannot run for high office. And I sort of see it. I’ve always gotten great press and lately, I’ve been hammered," he explained. "Anything I do. If I go on your show — if a word is slightly out of order it’s like hammer-time and it’s really amazing but that has absolutely no impact on me whatsoever.”

A spokesman for Newt Gingrich confirmed the announcement date; Fox News will get first interview.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) won't face a rematch against her 2010 Democratic challenger.

Former state Sen. Tarryl Clark (D) announced Sunday she plans to run in Minnesota's 8th district against Rep. Chip Cravaack (R). The freshman Republican defeated long-time Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar last cycle.

"I am filing to seek the Democratic nomination for Congress from the 8th District," Clark wrote on Twitter.

She added in an email to supporters Monday: "I'm running for Congress, because our middle class families need their own voice and leadership in Congress. ... We deserve leadership that won't put Big Oil and Wall Street ahead of us."

Clark told the Duluth News Tribune that she and her husband, Doug, have purchased a condominium in Duluth and will spend "a good chunk" of their time there during the campaign.

She has shown herself to be a competent fundraiser. During her challenge to Bachmann, Clark brought in more than $4.6 million.

Meanwhile, Republicans quickly labeled Clark a "political opportunist."

"Tarryl Clark has already shown Minnesota voters the kind of policies she will support in Congress - higher taxes on small businesses and more government-run healthcare," Andrea Bozek, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. "Minnesota working families rejected sending Clark to Washington once and they will do it again." 

--Updated at 10:21 a.m.

Indiana Rep. Joe Donnelly (D) officially launched his Senate bid on Monday.

The three-term congressman made the announcement in a video posted on his campaign website. "I want to make sure that the voices of hardworking Hoosiers are heard in the U.S. Senate," he said.

He also noted he wants to fight against GOP "proposals to privatize" Social Security. "They also want to privatize Medicare, which is just plain wrong," he said.

His candidacy was given immediate backing by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which called the race a "great pickup opportunity." 

"With Joe Donnelly in the race, Indiana will be a great pickup opportunity for Democrats next year," Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), who chairs the DSCC, said in a statement. "He is a strong candidate who knows how to beat the odds and win tough campaigns."

Donnelly isn't expected to face a primary. Meanwhile incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) is facing a stiff challenge from state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R).

Lugar is a top Tea Party target and Democrats have said they see a chance to win the seat if Lugar loses in the primary.

Missouri Republican Ed Martin said Monday that he'll make a run for the House next year rather than wage a bid for the GOP nomination to challenge Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

With Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) poised to enter the Senate race, Missouri's 2nd district is expected to be an open-seat race that could also attract Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.).

Martin made the switch official in a Monday morning radio interview and rolled out a new announcement video on his campaign website.

"There's a chance now to focus on running for the U.S. House," Martin said Monday. "I'm going to run for the Congress in the 2nd district."

Martin said he anticipates a primary. Republican Ann Wagner has formed an exploratory committee and appears to poised to run for the seat as well.

The latest polling on the Senate race had Akin in a dead heat with former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman (R). Akin took 29 percent of the vote to 28 for Steelman, but Martin was polling at just 9 percent.

Carnahan, meanwhile, is looking for new territory ahead of 2012 after the congressional map approved by the Republican-led State Legislature eliminated his district. A shift into the state's 2nd district could set up a rematch with Martin, who challenged him unsuccessfully in 2010.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will be in upstate New York on Monday to raise money for the GOP's special-election nominee.

Boehner is set to deliver remarks at a noon event in Depew, which will raise money for Republican Jane Corwin. The Speaker is the latest member of the GOP leadership to campaign for Corwin. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) appeared for Corwin in Rochester last Thursday. And Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, was in the 26th district to fundraise for her at the end of April.

Meanwhile, Washington Democrats have so far kept their distance from Kathy Hochul, the party's nominee in the May 24 special election for former Rep. Chris Lee's (R-N.Y.) seat.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a former upstate congresswoman, sent a fundraising pitch on Hochul's behalf and teamed with the pro-abortion-rights group EMILY's List to urge activists to lend their support. But she has yet to appear with Hochul at an event in the district. 

--Updated at 12:28 p.m.

A group of Republican donors in Iowa is headed to New Jersey later this month in an attempt to coax Gov. Chris Christie (R) into the 2012 presidential race.

According to The Associated Press, the group includes at least six major GOP donors and is led by energy company executive Bruce Rastetter, who suggested Iowa Republicans are looking for some alternatives to the current crop of hopefuls. 

The problem for the group is that Christie has repeatedly insisted he won't run in 2012, but the meeting is sure to set off a new round of speculation that despite his denials, the governor could be convinced.   

More from the AP:

The meeting speaks to what some Republicans nationally say is a lack of enthusiasm about the emerging roster of contenders. It's also unusual because candidates typically court Iowans, who get the first say in presidential nominating contests, and not the other way around.

Christie, who was elected in 2009 and has drawn national attention for his tough talk and battles with Democrats, has explicitly and repeatedly rejected the idea of running for the White House. Yet that hasn't deterred these Iowans.

"There isn't anyone like Chris Christie on the national scene for Republicans," Rastetter told the AP. "And so we believe that he, or someone like him, running for president is very important at this critical time in our country."

...

Rastetter represents a core GOP constituency in Iowa, business conservatives who favor nominees more identified with the philosophy of low taxes and limited government than with cultural issues. They're similar to those activists who urged George W. Bush, then the Texas governor, to run in 2000.

The Iowa delegation to New Jersey includes developers and entrepreneurs essential to pro-business Republican Terry Branstad's winning comeback campaign for governor last year.

Rastetter citied Christie's "blunt, direct leadership style. You always know where he stands, what he means. You don't need an interpreter."

The president's closest GOP challengers, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, are behind by 6 and 8 points, respectively.

Almost three in five likely voters think the “bin Laden bounce” will vanish within three months, the poll found.