For the candidate in second in this presidential race, Ted Cruz, there has been some smart writing of late about why – despite his obviously more robust conservative credentials and a resume that looks far more presidential – Washington Republicans give the appearance of being so much more open to the prospect of a Trump nomination than they are to Cruz. Jonathan Martin writes on the issue here.

“[T]he cadre of Republican lobbyists, operatives and elected officials based in Washington are much more unnerved by Mr. Cruz, a go-it-alone, hard-right crusader who campaigns against the political establishment and could curtail their influence and access, building his own Republican machine to essentially replace them… “Trump won’t do long-lasting damage to the G.O.P. coalition,” said John Feehery, a Capitol Hill aide turned lobbyist. “Cruz will.”

Charles Krauthammer says that should Trump win Iowa, he will receive the endorsement of at least one establishment governor or senator, and at that point become the inevitable nominee. Why the rejection of Cruz?