'Laughing all the way to the bank':  'Pretend primary' blasted as consultants' grift

The Republican Party presidential primary is all but over save for the campaign consultants, according to a report Monday.

Donald Trump is polling at 57 percent, according to an average of national surveys taken this month and last, and none of his challengers are anywhere close, but those low-performing also-rans continue to burn through campaign cash as they trudge toward almost certain defeat, reported the Washington Post.

“I’m amazed at the ability of a handful of people to pilfer the pockets of some of America’s biggest, most successful businessmen, and sucker them into giving, in some cases, tens of millions of dollars to a completely losing cause” said Chris LaCivita, a top Trump campaign aide.

The Koch political network announced it had raised $70 million to battle Trump, while billionaire Larry Ellison reportedly planned to spend up to $60 million to support Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) in his White House bid, while campaigns and a host of super PACs may spend nearly a billion dollars raised from small donors and wealthy conservatives alike.

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"I think anyone who says it’s a pretend debate or a pretend primary are really insulting the voters,” said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, one of the long-shot candidates who have appeared onstage for GOP debates. “It’s far too early to say it’s over."

Trump hasn't bothered to show up for the first two debates and seems unlikely to start, and longtime political observers are starting to wonder what's the point of propping up the primary's façade.

“We are being asked to pretend that this debate actually matters in this primary, when it’s looking like it’s already over,” said Marc Caputo, who covered the second GOP debate for the Messenger

But even a losing campaign can reveal winning strategies, and consultants and political professionals can show off their skills to land even more lucrative corporate deals after they stop burning through contributions sent to candidates.

“He’s laughing all the way to the bank,” said LaCivita, of Jeff Roe, who leads a top super PAC for Ron DeSantis. “You gotta keep the grift going as long as possible. ... This guy hasn’t won anything. But he’s a business guy, and he’s been successful at building a business.”