Donald Trump has warned that Republicans withdrawing their support from his presidential campaign will suffer defeat at the polls next month.

In a pointed message on Twitter, the billionaire real-estate tycoon said:

So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2016

Trump fired the missive as GOP lawmakers, including Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire bailed following the release of a tape in which Trump is heard making lewd sexual comments about women.

The New York Times reported Monday that much of the Republican Party appears to be in "a state of paralysis" and uncertain how to distance itself from Trump with angering voters who've stuck by him.

"The Republican Party is caught in a theater fire; people are just running to different exits as fast as they can," Steven Law, a former top aide to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell who now runs the super PAC American Crossroads, told The Times.