But the money-men stumbled into this leading role because, ever since the Reagan years, the GOP regulars and the conservatives have been aiming for the Gipper’s second coming merely by imposing ever-stricter ideological tests.

That has produced a stream of candidates competing over who can best mouth the catechism, plus somehow pick up enough other votes to take the White House.

Today, the main alternatives to Trump are Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio — each a specialist in pushing one or another set of right-wing buttons.

Which leaves them stiff.