gut-wrenching behavior party challenge betrayal party decades even fan trump find story disturb many level many intrigue twist nyt story behind-the-scenes efforts stop trump save time skip post read showstopper though still hopeful mr. rubio might prevail mr. mcconnell begin prepare senators prospect trump nomination assure threaten harm general election could run negative ads mr. trump create space republican senators seek re-election mr. mcconnell raise possibility treat mr. trump loss give describe republican senate voters necessary check president hillary clinton accord senators lunches.he remind colleagues 1996 re-election campaign comfortably amid president bill clinton easy re-election mr. trump mr. mcconnell say drop like hot rock accord colleagues know begin starters fact mcconnell think trump lose hillary give explain lot republicans get catch flat-footed trump primary give may lose get blow learn nothing else eight years learn thing easy race hillary clinton trump start campaign underdog poisonous favorables superb stay offense see past 36 hours endless attack pursue hillary fuel offensive alpha-male shtick may get long look centrist democrats especially men worry woman commander-in-chief whatever reason.beyond let blow mind gently counter bedrock conservative conventional wisdom media cut trump insta-access airwaves day clinch nomination name help hillary idea treat elementary fact among righties know nothing media love circus trump one big orange-y circus coverage turn skeptical surely might get quite amount anytime-day-or-night call-in opportunities kid think joe scarborough turn request republican nominee spend hour airtime gladhanding trump ultimate shiny object deliver rat hillary need figure way counter that.so give lose even would incumbent gop senator whose seat benefit alienate trump fan run attack ads party nominee insane via hot air republican leaders will sacrifice white house stop trump