We're in the middle of August, but Republican panic over their presidential nominee is already setting in.
Politico reports that more than 70 prominent Republicans -- including several former GOP senators and congressmen -- have written a letter begging RNC chairman Reince Priebus to pull the plug on Trump's campaign and instead spend all their resources protecting down-ballot Republican senators and representatives.
"We believe that Donald Trump’s divisiveness, recklessness, incompetence, and record-breaking unpopularity risk turning this election into a Democratic landslide," reads the letter, which was signed by big names such as former Sen. Gordon Humphrey and former Rep. Chris Shays. "Only the immediate shift of all available RNC resources to vulnerable Senate and House races will prevent the GOP from drowning with a Trump-emblazoned anchor around its neck."
As if that weren't enough, Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak on Thursday posted an epic tweetstorm describing the abject panic that has set in among Republicans, who now fear that they'll suffer massive down-ballot losses if Trump stays on his current course.
"OK, this shit's not funny anymore," he began. "Trump is threatening elected GOPers at all levels in places that haven't been competitive in decades... We are looking at an extinction-level event."
Among other things, Mackowiak ripped Trump for continuing to campaign in Connecticut when any hope of winning that state is long gone. He also said that Trump needs to dial back his rallies and TV interviews, and spend an average of 20 hours a week doing preparation for the fall debates.
Does that sound like something Trump would really agree to? Probably not, but Mackowiak insisted that Trump had to do it anyway.
"You can't overstate panic inside GOP currently," he said.
Check out the whole panicky tweetstorm below.
2/ It's time to get real. Stop campaigning in states that are gone: CT, NY, ME, CA, CO and VA. Just stop. You re wasting time.— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470936323.0
4/ I'd be ok with Trump and Pence ignoring every state but OH, PA, FL and NC from here on out. Let paid media and RNC field win UT, GA & AZ.— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470936419.0
6/ Do they have a daily message? It appears when there's a speech. Otherwise it does not appear they have a daily message. That's insane.— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470936510.0
8/ Trump is threatening the entire GOP and it could take a decade to erase the damage. We are looking at an extinction-level event.— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470936573.0
10/ Trump appeared to have turned a corner last week on Friday, quiet on weekend, good speech Mon. But blew it w/ 2A & ISIS comments.— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470939829.0
12/ Make Hillary play defense for a few days. Tighten up your schedule. Do a few more policy speeches. Announce some new policy advisors.— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470939907.0
14/ You can't overstate panic inside GOP currently. Lots of conversations taking place. More defections coming. Will they be before debate?— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470940036.0
16/ Fear of losing makes candidates improve knowledge, strategy, discipline & performance. Can Trump possibly not be worried about losing?— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470940109.0
18/ He used to love polls, citing them hourly. He can't now, as the race has turned sharply against him.— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470940186.0
20/ What does Trump care about, if he doesn't care about losing, doesn't care about the GOP, won't listen, won't learn, and won't improve?— Matt Mackowiak (@Matt Mackowiak) 1470940271.0