Donald Trump is limping toward Sunday's critical presidential debate against Hillary Clinton without the backing of a growing group of Republican leaders.
Trump insists he'll "never'' abandon his White House bid despite calls for him to step aside after his vulgar descriptions of sexual advances on women were revealed.
Trump's task in the faceoff is enormous.
Even before the recording of his remarks were made public, the businessman was lagging behind Clinton after an undisciplined first debate.
And he was struggling to overcome deep skepticism among women about his temperament and qualifications to be commander in chief.
The bombastic billionaire has hinted he may turn the debate into a referendum on Clinton's marriage, namely her husband's extramarital affairs and her treatment of the women who were involved.
As well, Trump has thanked Republicans who are standing by him.
Trump sent a tweet Sunday after the growing list of elected Republican officials calling on him to abandon his presidential campaign.
Trump tweeted: "Tremendous support (except for some Republican ''leadership``). Thank you.''
In a posting Saturday evening, Trump praised supporters who turned up at a party unity rally in Wisconsin, an event that Trump was disinvited to by House Speaker Paul Ryan.
The rally was in Ryan's congressional district.
At the event, Ryan was booed and heckled by Trump supporters, who shouted "Shame on you!'' and ``You turned your backs on us!''
CJAD will carry the town hall-style debate, which starts at 9PM.