Why Trump’s GOP rivals don’t dare hit his greatest liability even as time runs out to take him down

CNN —

Donald Trump’s closest and increasingly desperate primary rivals are cranking up the heat of their attacks, accusing him of lying about them, running scared of debates and even of being a bust as president.

But with the Iowa caucuses only 12 days away, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley won’t dare jab the Republican front-runner over the key liability that could trip him up in a general election and will haunt him in history: his assault on American democracy.

Their reticence might suggest campaign malpractice and betray a lack of political courage as Trump adopts an ever more autocratic tone ahead of a possible presidency he vows to use for personal retribution.

Indeed, as one Iowa voter put it to DeSantis in a written question at a Gray TV town hall Tuesday: “Why do you protect Trump? What are you scared of?”

Two weeks out from the caucuses, DeSantis-Haley rivalry dominates airwaves as Trump maintains front-runner status

But his opponents’ posture does make strategic sense given that the ex-president appears to have an even firmer grip on the GOP than when he left Washington in disgrace after trying to overturn the 2020 election. Trump’s hold is partly based on his disruptive character, refusal to play by the rules and folk hero status with GOP voters. But his power is also being reinforced by the base’s widespread disinterest in any attempt to call him to account for his anti-democratic behavior and for the idea that he should bear any blame for outrages like his supporters’ mob attack on the US Capitol.

Just as when he was president, when his dominance faced down his GOP critics in Congress, Trump’s superpower is