CHICAGO — The fourth Republican approached by outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner was identified as a Winnetka attorney and national GOP committeeman.

Richard Porter, a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, discussed the possibility of taking the governor’s place on the ballot during a telephone call ahead Rauner’s unsuccessful campaign for re-election, Politico reported Thursday.

Rauner disclosed last week in an interview with WLS-TV that he had asked four potential candidates about the possibility of replacing him as the Republican nominee were he to drop out.

Porter told Politico his discussion with Rauner about his potential nomination took place as part of a larger strategy conversation regarding the governor’s chance for re-election, describing it as “more of an aside” than an outright offer.

“He was never a quitter,” Porter said. “To the contrary. He was always focused on finding the best path to winning. And if that meant he should fall on his sword, then he was willing to do that — and give millions of his money away to boot. I think Rauner’s comments on this have been misunderstood.”

The three other candidates Rauner tried to recruit as a handpicked replacement with the offer of “huge financial resources” were identified as former Republican attorney general nominee Erika Harold, of Urbana, retired state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, of St. Charles and Republican National Committee finance chair Todd Ricketts, of Wilmette.

Porter was picked to fill a vacant position on the 168-member Republican National Committee in January 2014 following the death of Rich Williamson. He has served as a special assistant to President George H.W. Bush, counselor to Vice President Dan Quayle and general counsel to Rauner’s transition, according to the committee.

Rauner went on to earn 38.8 percent of the vote to Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker’s 54.5 percent. The outgoing governor told WLS he went from having a “good chance for re-election to very, very difficult chance for re-election” after the election of President Donald Trump.

More: Rauner Says He Tried To Drop Out Of Race, Handpick Successor