Mmmm… Smell that party unity.

The POLITICO Caucus is a panel of activists and strategists from 11 swing states. In a recent survey conducted by this caucus, their results show that a solid 70% of Republican insiders desire to see the earth open up and swallow Donald Trump, along with every red cap-wearing troglodyte supporting him.

Okay, that last bit was just me, but that 70% mentioned really wish he would step aside and allow someone else to pick up the race, as concerns for the down ballot races rises.

“I’d rather take our chances with nearly anyone else than continue with this certain loser who will likely cost the Senate and much more,” said a New Hampshire Republican — who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously.

“The effect Trump is having on down-ballot races has the potential to be devastating in November,” added a Florida Republican. “His negative image among Hispanics, women and independents is something that could be devastating to Republicans. Trump’s divisive rhetoric to the Hispanic community at large has the potential to be devastating for years to come.”

It’s highly unlikely Trump, the spray-tanned narcissist he is, would voluntarily step down for the good of the party. Or country. This entire charade was for himself and never out of any sense of patriotism or good will, in the first place.

Then, of course, there is the very complicated issue of what to do about a candidate at this late stage of the game. Even if a sudden bout of conscience and graciousness were to hit Trump and he announced today that he’s made a horrible mistake, that he was begging for forgiveness, and that he would be going back to the business of giving foreign workers the shaft and trolling for his next trophy wife, there’s a complicated process of choosing a replacement.

A Trump exit from the race after he’s been formally nominated would trigger a rarely used vacancy rule in the national Republican Party’s rulebook. That rule empowers the Republican National Committee — a 168-member panel that includes three GOP leaders from every state and territory — to select a replacement. The RNC is also authorized to reconvene the national convention, which would be all but logistically impossible.

And of course, the poo-flinging and online threats from Trump’s slack jawed disciples would be mighty.

For that reason, the RNC doesn’t want to give the impression that they’re “out to get” the nominee. Any move of this kind would give legitimacy to his claims of a system that is rigged against him.

Another interesting note from the Caucus survey is that of those 30% who want him to stay in, a number of those don’t believe he’ll win in November, but feel that after a devastating trouncing in November, the party can begin to heal itself.

Few to none feel the man has enough humility to do the right thing and step aside. His ego is too invested in the prospect of world power.

Still, those surveyed have floated replacement names, such as runners up, Senator Ted Cruz or John Kasich, current VP nominee Mike Pence, and even House Speaker Paul Ryan – either of which would be a massive improvement over Trump and could move this election into the “win” column for Republicans in November.

Indeed, until that massive sinkhole opens up and rights this problem for us, it’s all just speculation and wishful thinking. All those of us who have been screaming from the sidelines can do for now is to put a laser-focus on protecting the down ballot.