In case you aren’t aware, the Republican Party is a bit wobbly.
A year ago, few people would have guessed the GOP would have arrived at such a dire crossroads by this point in the primary season. Most figured 2016 was going to be the Party of Lincoln’s time to shine.
Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress, and their potential roster of presidential hopefuls looked impressive. It was believed that voters would get the chance to vet different candidates, each touting various rightwing bonafides and relevant professional experience. The hope was that at some point the cream would rise to the top, and Republican voters would coalesce around a powerhouse ticket strong enough to deliver the crown jewel of electoral triple crown: House, Senate, and finally the Oval Office.
Then Donald Trump happened.
No one is arguing that the GOP existed in perfect harmony pre-Trump. Anyone who’s been awake since 2009 knows that’s not the case. However, the internal bickering and squabbling marking intra-party discourse for the past seven years has moved to civil war status, with various factions threatening to bolt if the GOP nominee is unsavory to their preferred tastes.