state's special election -- leaving Trump forces without a strong surrogate, never mind an official White House presence, on the premises.

Last year, then-RNC Chair Priebus strongly urged anti-Trump holdouts to jump on board, telling them that Trump would win in November with them or without them. The sole Trump hand on the scene this year was Trump fundraiser Anthony Scaramucci, who does not yet even technically work for the administration.

But for now, Romney appears willing to revel solely in the veneration from his network, even if not from Trump's.

"This guy here -- if you don't know him -- he's done seven of the seven peaks on seven continents," Romney regaled to the queue Friday morning, as the former governor awaited the turning chairlift. He pointed to his friend."And he's sailed the seven seas."

"This guy here," shot back the associate. "He ran for president!"

"And I lost," Romney said, before his four-seater began to descend.