If the GOP fights Trump and he runs as a third party candidate....

[NightWatcher]

Will they let the Democratic nominee go ahead and move in to the White House early or will they hold off til January and make them go through the motions as a technicality?

I just don't see the GOP getting on board and telling all of their candidates coming up for election to emulate and echo him on their runs next year. I think they will try to push him out so that Cruz or Rubio (or a "to be named" white horse savior) will swoop in to lead as the Party's candidate for the Presidency.

I wonder if Trump really wants the job sometimes and whether he'll see it though and govern if elected. I doubt he wants to live within the confines of the office and its responsibility.

If Trump does want the job and the GOP does want him out, I think the Democratic Nominee will have little trouble getting the win.

[BlueStater]

1. They'll fight Cruz too.

He's as unacceptable to them as Trump is.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. As things stand right now Trump could roll up a primary based first round win at the convention.

I don't see how the allegedly 'moderate' Republicans push him out in that case. Besides they aren't moderate, this was all supposed to be theater to have the clownish Trump be the stalking horse trolling his teabag base and then for Jeb or Rubio to swoop in as the responsible adult and sweep to victory. Shit isn't working out that way, the stalking horse is stealing the election.

[pampango]

3. IF (big if) the GOP plans to push Trump out, they may wait for filing deadlines and 'sore loser'

deadlines to pass, if that is possible. That would make it more difficult for Trump to run a 3rd party campaign or, at least, minimize the damage that it does to republican candidates for other offices.

That desire in the GOP to delay, delay may be a reason to limit their criticism of Trump in the near future. He has warned them what he will do if they don't "treat him fairly" and they don't want him to do IT until it is too late for him to go 3rd party.