On Hardball, Chuck Todd called it a “fantasy,” but . . . he reported that some Republicans think that maybe they can talk Donald Trump into quitting, and that an ideal replacement ticket would be Mike Pence and Nikki Haley.

Chris Matthews was very skeptical, saying that there’d never be a week when Pence could beat Hillary, because he lacks the “pizazz.” Todd replied that some Republicans believe that a generic Republicans could beat Clinton. Todd quoted one Republican as saying “take any two people in the White Pages. Make them the ticket. Put R’s next to their name, and put them on a desert island and not say anything, and they think that candidate gets 47%.” Then again, how tuned in can someone be who still thinks in terms of the “White Pages?”

So what do Legal Insurrection readers think? Could they ever imagine Trump stepping down? And if he did, could Pence-Haley beat Hillary-Kaine?

CHUCK TODD: Here’s what I think this is really about. This attempt. I think somehow, and I think it’s fantasy, but somehow I think there are Republicans that have in it their head that maybe they can talk him into quitting. And I don’t believe that that’s true. CHRIS MATTHEWS: But there is no alternative except Paul Ryan. Who could step in now? It’s the same old, you can’t stop somebody with nobody. TODD: Well that’s the — look, that’s the problem, right? You alienated supporters and what do you do? Look, I’ve heard a scenario, you basically, Pence becomes the top of the ticket, they somehow convince Nikki Haley and all is right in the world again. MATTHEWS: What?? Pence is going to beat Hillary Clinton? TODD: Is Donald Trump? MATTHEWS: Well, it’s not likely this week but at least there have been better weeks. There will never be a better week for Pence. What week would that look like? TODD: How do you know that? MATTHEWS: Because he doesn’t have the pizazz to be a presidential candidate. TODD: He doesn’t have the pizazz? MATTHEWS: Yeah. TODD: There are many people in the Republican party who think a generic ‘R” — there’s one person who thinks take any two people in the White Pages. Make them the ticket. Put R’s next to their name, and put them on a desert island and not say anything, and they think that candidate gets 47%.



