Wrong. There are 17 candidates in the race. The others have just suspended their campaigns. This is what Paul Ryan, the guy running the convention, says,
"So let me speak directly to the delegates on this: If no candidate has a majority on the first ballot, I believe that you should only choose from a person who has actually participated in the primary. Count me out," Ryan said.
"I simply believe that if you want to be the nominee for our party – to be the president – you should actually run for it. I chose not to do this. Therefore, I should not be considered. Period. End of story."
When a distance runner suspends his race, he is no longer going to finish.
Politics is weird.
How about I say, “The only 3 still competing.”