In addition to a weak and bloated field, Trump’s rivals in the Republican party also underestimated his appeal so they let him thrive without attacks early in the process. Then, when it became clear Trump would do well in early contests, the other candidates acted out a variation on the classic prisoner’s dilemma. Bush, Christie, Rubio, Cruz, and their super-PACS focused their attacks on each other for their own selfish goal, rather than attacking the man who they thought would truly be bad for America.

Even so, Trump won’t even have a majority in the primary, among a segment of the population most likely to support him. He can’t win the general election with 40% of the (white) Republican vote and little else.