This is the most plausible path for Donald Trump to win the election

(Donald Trump.Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
CNBC's John Harwood tweeted late Thursday afternoon that Donald Trump's campaign had figured out its "shortest" path to 270 electoral votes and a victory in the November presidential election.

And the path described is probably Trump's most plausible to the White House.

It centers on maintaining a lead in three states in which Trump holds an advantage but 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney lost; flipping three more states that are very tight; and making gains in one final state slightly further away from his grasp.

And, if Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is able to pull out a victory in any of those six states, Trump will fall short of the needed 270 votes in the Electoral College.

Here's the path described:

1. Maintain leads in Ohio, Iowa, and the 2nd Congressional District in Maine

Trump holds leads in each of those three locations — all places Romney lost in 2012. Per the RealClearPolitics polling average, Trump has a 2.4-point lead in Ohio, a state that has voted for the presidential winner in every election since 1964. The most recent poll in the state, however, showed Clinton up 2 points. In Iowa, Trump is up 5 points in the latest RCP average. And in the 2nd Congressional District in Maine, Trump has a comfortable 8.7-point lead.

In total, securing those three places would amount to 25 electoral votes.

2. Maintain the Romney map from 2012

Trump is holding steady in each of the states Romney won in 2012, aside from North Carolina. Trump is in a tight race with Clinton in the Tar Heel State, where he trails by 1.3 points. Clinton has come out on top in each of the past six polls posted to RCP.

Should Trump win North Carolina, maintain the Romney map, and maintain his leads from above, he would have 231 electoral votes.

3. Win Nevada

This is the juncture at which it begins to get a bit more difficult for Trump. Trump trails Clinton by 1.4 points in RCP's Nevada average — well within the margin of error of the state's polls.

If Trump wins Nevada after the first two parts fall into place, he would be looking at 237 electoral votes.

4. Win Florida

The Sunshine State is starting to look increasingly difficult for Trump, who led in a series of polls in Florida before the first debate. Still, Trump trails by just 2.4 points in the RCP Florida average.

Win there, and he would be up to 266 electoral votes. Just four short. This brings us to the final piece ...

5. Win New Hampshire

The final state Trump would need to capture is New Hampshire, where he is facing the toughest odds. Trump trails Clinton by 5 points in the RCP average, but two recent polls found him within 2 points of the former secretary of state in the Granite State.

Win New Hampshire, and Trump is sitting at an even 270.