Mitt Romney, R-UT, has called on the Republican donor class in order to defeat Trump to begin pressuring GOP candidates with low polling numbers to drop out of the 2020 presidential race.

Romney made his call in an op-ed piece published by the Wall Street Journal on Monday. He stated that donors should pressure candidates who have no way out to withdraw by the end of February next year.

He wrote: “Despite Donald Trump’s apparent inevitability a baker’s dozen Republicans hope to become the Party’s nominee for President 2024.” “It is possible for anyone of them to become the party’s 2024 nominee for president if the race narrows down to two candidates before Mr. Trump secures the nomination.”

He added that “for this to happen, Republican influencers and megadonors — large and small — will have to do something different than they did in 2016: they’ll need to get the candidates they support agree to withdraw when and if their paths to nomination are effectively shut down.”

Romney stated that candidates who are offered financial incentives and increased exposure will not abandon their campaigns on their own.

There are incentives for candidates who have no chance to stay on the ballot. “Coming in behind the first place could grease another run in 4 years, or even have its own market value: Mike Huckabee & Rick Santorum both got paid gigs,” said he.

John H. Sununu, former New Hampshire Governor, said: “It is fun running for president if you know that you cannot win.” He continued. John H. Sununu said, “It’s fun to run for president when you don’t think you can win.” He continued. “Left up to their own inclinations expect many of the candidates to remain in the race for quite some time. They will split up the non-Trump votes, giving him the victory. “A plurality of votes is enough for winner-takes-all primaries.”

Romney warned donors to not trust GOP leaders, campaign staff, or consultants.

Donors might think that leaders of parties can narrow down the field. It’s not true. “Candidaten don’t pay attention to party officials because neither do voters,” wrote he. “The last people to encourage a candidate’s withdrawal are campaign staffers and consultants, who want to hold on to their jobs as long as they can.”

Current polls place Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ahead of former President Donald Trump. Ron DeSantis is his closest competitor. Nikki Haley and Chris Christie are also in the single digits. These numbers could change during the first presidential discussion, which will begin next month.