Donald Trump has spent more than $1 million on electoral research for a potential presidential run in 2016, The NY Post reported Monday.

Trump spoke at the Oakland County (Michigan) Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner earlier in May, which was attended by a crowd of 2,300 people.

�Everybody tells me, �Please run for president. Please run for president.� I would be much happier if a great and competent person came along,� Trump reportedly told attendees. �I�d be happy if President Obama did a great job. I�m a Republican, but before anything, I love this country. I would love to see somebody come in who is going to be great.�

Trump told the Oakland County audience that Hillary will be the Democratic Party’s nominee in 2016, and warned that Republicans should be ready for a fight. “It seems that everybody who runs for office wants my support. I will say (the Republican Party) has to pick the right candidate because it will not be an easy election in three years. If they don�t pick the right person, it will be a landslide,” Trump said, according to Source Newspapers.

Michael Cohen, special counsel to Trump, told the Post they commissioned the $1 million in research into Trump�s standing in each state, and to gauge those he would need to win over.

�The electoral research was commissioned. We did not spend $1 million on this research for it just to sit on my bookshelf,� Cohen said. �At this point Mr. Trump has not made any decision on a political run, but what I would say is that he is exactly what this country needs. The turnout at these political speeches indicates his following remains very strong and is growing.�