Now a quarter of Republican governors and Congress members refuse to endorse Trump in latest sign of party civil war

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Months after the emergence of a vocal minority of 'never Trump' Republicans, a full quarter of top elected Republicans have refused to back their party's nominee.

The opposition to the billionaire and reality TV star is unprecedented in modern presidential politics, and signals the deep concern and in some cases dismay top Republicans have for the man who cruised to the nomination by slashing through a field of 16 more conventional candidates.

Out of 331 elected governors, senators, and House members, 87 are not endorsing the GOP presidential nominee, according to a comprehensive USA Today survey.

Among them are several prominent senators who had made efforts to support Trump, like Ohio senator Rob Portman, who withdrew support after the release of an 11-year old 

Trump has attracted fervent supporters, but some Republicans feel he could sink other GOPers down the ticket

The list does not include House Speaker Paul Ryan, who in an extraordinary move Monday announced that he would not campaign for Trump, but has not rescinded his endorsement. 

Several female lawmakers bolted from Trump after the release of the tape, where the GOP talked about grabbing women by the crotch.

Others have expressed concern about some of Trump's policy positions or said he doesn't have the right temperament to serve.

Senators and House members are eyeing control of their own chamber as Trump continues his war with the GOP establishment. The Senate is very much in play, and the House could flip to Democratic hands if there were a total collapse of the candidate

Ohio senator Rob Portman is among those who is not supporting Trump. He made his announcement after the release of an 11-year old Access Hollywood tape where Trump used cruel language. He is up for reelection but has been running well in the polls

NOT CAPTURED: Senator John McCain said he and his wife, Cindy, won't vote for Trump, after keeping distance from the candidate for months. McCain is up for reelection

Senator Jeff Flake has been among the most vocal critics of Trump from within the Senate

Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway appeared on 'Good Morning America' today and told Republicans 'enough with the pussyfooting around' 

The Trump campaign isn't taking the distancing lightly. Trump on Tuesday blasted Ryan in a series of tweets where he called him 'weak,' and also went after other 'disloyal' Republicans.

His campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, on Wednesday told lawmakers to stop 'pussyfooting around' and get behind the GOP nominee – an unexpected turn of phrase given how Trump spoke about grabbing women by the p**** on the tape.

'We want the support of anybody who is going to publicly endorse us, but enough with the pussyfooting around in terms of do you support us or do you not support us,' Conway said to 'Good Morning America's' George Stephanopoulos.

Stephanopoulos was pointing out that Trump has said he both wants and doesn't need the support of House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said Monday that he would not un-endorse The Donald, but he wouldn't be actively supporting the billionaire's presidential bid.  

'The fact is, some of these leaders have been very wishy washy,' Conway noted. 

One senator, Deb Fischer of North Carolina, endorsed, condemned – and now is backing Trump again.

Many of the lawmakers, governors in particular, run substantial political organizations that are vital to driving turnout to impact close elections.

But the spit cuts both ways. The Trump campaign has been warning that the candidate's supporters may stay home rather than help lawmakers who don't help him. 

On Tuesday, Trump's spokeswoman Katrina Pierson tweeted that Trump supporters were threatening not to vote for Republicans down-ballot because of the rank-and-file's refusal to simply get in line.

Donald Trump has escalated his bitter battle with the Republican party by launching fresh attacks on the leadership and saying he 'doesn't want their support'

'The fact is, I think we should get support and we don’t get the support from guys like Paul Ryan,' the Republican nominee said on The O'Reilly Factor

'I can't keep my phone charged due to the mass volume of texts from people all over the country who will #VoteTrump but [down-]ballot not so much,' she wrote.

Trump unloaded on Ryan on the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News on Tuesday night.

'I’m just tired of nonsupport and I don’t really want his support. This happens all the time – if you sneeze he calls up and announces isn’t that a terrible thing. 

When asked by host Bill O'Reilly about potentially needing the support of Ryan after the election, Trump dropped a hint that he will push to change the party leadership.

'I would think that Ryan maybe wouldn’t be there, maybe he’ll be in a different position,' Trump said. 

'So look, I don’t want his support, I don’t care about his support.'