Yes,but at this time it is a toss-up between his desire to use federal money to create his own Mount Rushmore,and his total fear of losing in public in such a way that he can't lie about it.
IMO, Trump never cared about winning this. I agree, he went into this for his ego and to build more of his empire. Trump this....Trump that....look at his "brand", since that is everything he is...a brand.
But if you look at what he's really doing, he's getting his ducks in a row, literally, to start his own media conglomerate. He's already got Roger Ailes to run the thing....and a good majority of Fox News hosts out there shilling for him, who would be more than happy, willing and able, to join on as his media egos.
I think the meetings he had with Bill Clinton BEFORE he entered the race, were to jump in to help Hillary get where she is, and to help himself. And for those who still have common sense left, then it should be obvious that that is all Trump does anything for....is to help himself. And I'm sure his BFF's, the Clintons, will be paying him back for all his "troubles".
Hence why he rarely attacks her. Hence why any time there is a scandal or story out about Hillary that could be damaging to her, Trump is out there saying the most outrageous things, all in an effort to train the media lapdogs on his scent and give Clinton cover. And the good little media hounds, go right along with it. Notice how Trump hardly has any staff at any of the places he needs to win? Notice how Trump doesn't have hardly any money in any campaign ads? Notice how Trump is really barely trying to win? Either his ego is SO big and massive that he is so delusional to thinks he has this, OR....he doesn't give a rats ass, as that wasn't his plan. And although the first line of thinking is somewhat accurate, when you take into account, the things he's planning on the side (i.e. his own media network) and who he's aligning himself with, as well, the fact that he's already pushing the narrative that he's being treated unfairly, there's vote rigging, and cheating, etc etc.....it's not a far stretch to add it all together and = Trump doesn't plan on winning.