The Senate's no. 3 Republican is calling on Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE to drop out of the presidential race following leaked audio of the GOP nominee making lewd sexual comments about women in 2005 .



Sen. John Thune John Randolph ThuneSenate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Romney backs pre-election Supreme Court vote, paving way for McConnell, Trump Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-S.D.) tweeted on Saturday that Trump "should withdraw and Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Pence adviser knocks ex-staffer who criticized Trump on COVID-19 MORE should be our nominee effective immediately."

Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately. — Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) October 8, 2016



Thune, Republican Conference Chairman and chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, joins a growing chorus of Republicans calling on Trump to be replaced by Pence on the GOP presidential ticket.

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Trump on Saturday said there's "zero chance" he will leave the race.

The top Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.), has not called for Trump to leave the race. Late Friday night, he issued a statement calling Trump's remarks "repugnant and unacceptable in any circumstance."



"As the father of three daughters, I strongly believe that Trump needs to apologize directly to women and girls everywhere, and take full responsibility for the utter lack of respect for women shown in his comments on that tape," McConnell said in a statement.



On the tape, Trump boasts about his aggressive handling of women, who he said will let him do anything because he's a celebrity.

- This story was updated at 1:24 p.m.