Slack-jawed senior Republican officials are so incensed at Donald Trump’s recent performance that they are actively exploring how to replace him on the ballot were the real estate mogul to drop out of the race.
‘Senior party officials’ are so upset with his behavior that they are exploring how to replace him on the ballot, ABC News reported.
CNN reported that Priebus was ‘extremely upset’ with Trump’s refusal to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and his handling of a dispute with the Khan family – an issue where Ryan distanced himself from Trump.
NBC reported that Priebus was ‘apoplectic,’ while ABC called him ‘furious.’
Priebus called Trump Tuesday to express his frustration with how his spat with the family of slain Army Captain Humayun Khan has distracted the campaign since the end of the Democratic convention, where Khan’s father spoke, according to ABC.
An official told CNN he was examining what the rules were in the event of a vacancy.
There have been no indications from Trump that he plans to get out of the race.
‘I would push back on any formal report that the candidate is going to leave the race, Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway told CNN.
Priebus is also a Wisconsin native close to Paul Ryan, who is facing a primary challenge on Tuesday.
Even former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a passionate Trump supporter, has said he is starting to look ‘unacceptable’ next to Clinton and he risks losing the election unless he becomes ‘more disciplined’.
No matter the fury some Republicans might be feeling toward Trump – whose election is closely linked to their own ability to keep majorities in the House and Senate – the methods for replacing him are complicated.
To do so, he would have to drop out, and for mechanical reasons this might have to happen by September, as ABC described the scenario.
Republican National Committee rules state that the committee ‘is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States.’
