And that would be after the entire Repuke Party exploded? Don't think so.

someone on TV just pointed out that every Trump rally is attended by people who see the race in hostile "us versus them" terms. Everyone who seems to criticize Trump, as a Gold Star Mother did yesterday, is their enemy. They break into several chants of "lock her up, lock her up, ..." at every rally.

So, regardless of how many conservatives are coming to realize Trump is mentally disordered, it seems likely that his base would react very badly to Trump's withdrawal, regardless of excuse. Three months wouldn't be enough time to turn them...presumably.

But I may still wake up screaming at a nightmare confluence of Trump withdrawing, Pence moving into his place, a well-respected Republican senator or governor becoming the VP candidate, a major terrorist attack in America moving the entire nation into protective mode (engineered by a leader with a grudge against Hillary perhaps...), and the Koch alliance of several hundred oligarchs deciding they can elect themselves a very satisfactory president.

We're actually in the middle of a real nightmare, and I won't feel safe until it's over.

I really do believe that Hillary's got this.

the election for any replacement they conceivably tried to plug in.

I feel a little embarrassed I didn't know the answer to my question, but gratified I wasn't the only one.

I'm glad you asked again.

something about a 150 person panel in which any of them can put up a name. Whichever name gets 76 votes first goes on to the general. I haven't confirmed this. So there might still be a chance for them to nominate Reagan's maggot infested corpse. Would also have to confirm if the replacement has to be among the living. So I guess Cheney also's got a shot.

Frankly, I think it would be a worse scenario for us. If they had an actual Republican (Rubio, maybe even Cruz) they would jump at the chance.
Hillary's margin over Trump isn't that great. If Repubs were united, Hillary stands a chance of losing.

When he loses in November, he's done. There will be no place for him in the party system. Then the GOP will need a new leader.

Cruz?

First of all, I don't think he believes, or will ever believe, that he's going to lose. As we are seeing now, his ego is such that if he loses he will blame the system and call the election rigged. Unlike Romney, who also thought he had the election in the bag and was able to draft a credible concession speech while the results were coming in, don't expect Trump to go quietly into that good night. I will now violate Godwin's Law by pointing out that when Hitler realized that Germany was finished he blamed the German people for not being strong enough, not his own strategic failures. I expect will blame everyone but himself for the loss because, in his mind, he can only ever be successful. It will not be pretty.

since March or earlier.

Trump isn't dropping out and there is no reason to keep speculating about it.

But given his instability, I think it's a fair process question to ask. I didn't know the process and was curious how it worked, and if it had ever happened before.